During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) recognizes those who save lives in times of crisis and raises awareness of the hard work and dedication of public safety telecommunicators.

On February 21, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. the Glendive (MT) 911 Communications Center sent a multi-state message from the Glendive Police requesting law enforcement agencies attempt to locate a child abducted by a non-custodial parent in a stolen vehicle possibly en route to California. The Idaho State Police (ISP) Regional Communications Center (RCC) South in Meridian broadcast the information to the Pocatello and Idaho Falls areas and ISP Troopers in Pocatello began expanding their search toward the Idaho-Utah border.

The Glendive Police established cell phone contact with the suspect and ISP RCC South pinged the phone to learn its location and update responders. ISP Sergeant David Noyes located the vehicle near the Utah border at 7:55 pm. Quickly thereafter the vehicle was stopped, the child safely rescued, the stolen car recovered, and the suspect taken into custody.

The Glendive Police and 911 Communications Center, Idaho State Police Regional Communications Center and Troopers, and Box Elder (UT) Sheriff’s Office communicated and coordinated with each other, resulting in the swift, successful rescue of the missing child. Learn how your agency can join the ISP RCCs as members of NCMEC’s Missing Kids Readiness Program