SHAMOKIN - The city police department has registered with a national nonprofit organization to enhance community awareness when a child is reported missing.
Area residents can register with A Child Is Missing to receive emergency alerts when city police report a missing person. The service applies to children, elderly, college students and people with physical or mental disorders such as Down syndrome, autism or Alzheimer's.
"What I liked about it is the elderly aspect of it. We're running more and more into people with dementia and Alzheimer's," said Police Chief Ed Griffiths.
Police officers will call A Child is Missing upon learning of a missing person. The firm will then use its online database and mapping system to place alerts to residents and businesses in the area where the report was made, according to a company press release.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based organization says it can place 1,000 alert phone calls within one minute of a report.
According to the press release, A Child is Missing has assisted in the recovery of more than 1,500 persons.
The service is free, and Griffiths encourages people to register.
For more information, visit www.achildismissing.org.
Department reports
Monthly departmental reports for the city code, fire and police departments and the treasurer's office were shared during Monday's meeting of city council.
Rick Bozza, code officer, reported that his office received 27 calls and six walk-in complaints, and that he made 31 property visits. He issued nine citations and 14 written warnings, and conducted three health inspections. He also assisted on one police incident and two fire incidents.
The code office generated $16,809 in tickets and permits in February: building, $235; Dumpster, $100; excavating, $545; health inspections, $300; landlord registration, $8,900; code violation tickets, $125; paid parking, $612; restricted parking, $3,960; reserved parking, $1,400; amusement licenses, $525; snow plow, $100, and copies, $7.
Robert Wolfe, fire chief, reported Shamokin Fire Bureau members responded to 28 calls in February, including five residential fires, three chimney fires, three motor vehicle accidents, two stand-by assignments and one outdoor natural gas leak,
Griffiths reported police officers responded to 1,233 calls in February, patrolled 4,531 miles, filed 21 criminal complaints, 15 traffic citations, nine non-traffic citations, 12 parking citations and three juvenile petitions. Officers also issued 237 parking tickets, five code tickets and seven written warnings.
Brenda Scandle, treasurer, reported the following balances as of March 1: general fund, $18,685.93; library, $982.26; contingent, $230.16; sinking fund, $197.93; motor license, $2.56, and recreation, $6.96.