There are more than 250 missing children and teenagers reported missing in Arkansas as of today, Monday, May 1. According to the Arkansas Crime Information Center of the 255 missing juveniles – 188 are between the ages of 16 and 18, 56 are between the ages of 13 and 15, and 10 are children age 12 and younger.
The statistics nationwide are even more devastating with 460,699 children reported missing in 2015 and 465,676 reported missing in 2016. This month the Benton Police Department is working with ACIC and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the relentless pursuit to find missing children, and to provide tips and information to the public to prevent more children from being reported missing.
“We believe that being proactive in this initiative is equally important as finding currently missing children,” said Benton Police Chief Kirk Lane. “If law enforcement and the public work together by sharing information, that is the essential step to returning children to their homes and capturing the suspects involved in abducting children.”
BNPD officers and staff will participate in the Rock One Sock campaign, and we want you to participate right alongside us by sharing “footsies” photographs.
“The Rock One Sock campaign is a simple way to show your support for missing children and their families. We know missing children’s issues do not affect every household, but through Rock One Sock, everyone can show they care.”- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
To participate, wear one sock and take a picture or video to show how you rocked that sock! Then share it with the BNPD on our social media pages (Facebook: Benton Police Department, Twitter: Benton Police Dept., and Instagram: bentonpolicear) with the hashtag #RockOneSock or email them to mburks@bentonar.org and we’ll post them on our social media pages for you. The BNPD also encourages the public to join us for National Missing Children’s Day on May 25 (details will be released at a later date).
During the May initiative, the BNPD will also post on social media pages pictures and information of missing children, information about the Morgan Nick Amber Alerts, information about child safety apps for Apple and Android devices, cyber security tips, and tips for parents including essential information to keep up-to-date on children.
“Immediately making identification information available to the public has proven effective in helping to locate missing children.” Arkansas Crime Information Center.
To report information about missing children, immediately call 911 or contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can be reached at 1-800-The-Lost (1-800-843-5678) or www.missingkids.org.