A Chilliwack mom whose daughter went lacking in 2021 says the B.C. authorities and RCMP’s E Division has informed her it’s engaged on creating a public help alert system for adults.
Alina Durham’s daughter, Shaelene Keeler Bell, went lacking in 2021. Her physique was discovered within the Fraser River greater than 4 months later.
Durham mentioned she reached out to Garry Begg, the Minister of Public Security and Solicitor Basic, about creating a lacking grownup alert system and he requested her to ship his workplace a proposal.
“My proposal was that we take the AMBER Alert that’s already in place and we change a wording in it so that it says victim,” Durham mentioned.
“So that would apply to children who are abducted or in imminent danger or an adult who could be abducted or in imminent danger.”
She mentioned she acquired a response on Might 12 asking her to achieve out to B.C.’s RCMP lacking particular person’s division and now one thing is within the works.
“Basically at the end of the day I’d like to see the Canada Alert Ready system used,” Durham added.
Sam Noh, whose father Shin Noh went lacking in September 2013 and by no means returned, has been an advocate for the creation of a ‘Silver Alert’ system that may notify communities to the disappearance of a senior, notably one with dementia. He co-founded the group, BC Silver Alert.
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Nonetheless, there has by no means been any official alert system in place, apart from AMBER Alerts, that are for kids who’re believed to have been kidnapped.
The BC NDP promised to develop a Silver Alert system when it shaped authorities in 2020, commanding then Public Security Minister Mike Farnworth to supervise its growth in his 2020 mandate letter.
Nonetheless, a system has nonetheless not been put in place.
Within the letter to Durham, it acknowledged that RCMP’s Lacking Individuals Centre is “actively working” on the event of a public help alert system within the province.
“This initiative is focused on adults or children who go missing and may be vulnerable due to cognitive impairment or other health-related concerns,” the letter acknowledged.
“It’s a major step forward in enhancing our response to these cases, and your support reinforces the importance of this work.”
Durham mentioned she is completely satisfied she acquired a response.
“I would like to see everybody included,” Durham mentioned. “I get uninterested in the segregating and the making extra of what it truly is, proper?
“You know, at the end of the day, it’s a safety measure and it’s peace of mind for families, like myself, when my daughter went missing.”
She mentioned her daughter, who was 23 years outdated, had by no means gone lacking earlier than and Durham would have preferred an alert to have been issued in that case, particularly if the circumstances across the lacking particular person have been suspicious or out of character.
“It keeps our community safe, we all work together, it takes a village,” Durham mentioned.
“Once I received my letter again, I used to be very, very completely satisfied as a result of we’ve to begin someplace, and it’s a begin. And so if we even begin with this alert, proper, for adults and seniors and adults with some cognitive points, it’s begin.
“My belief is that once something starts, then it can move forward.”
