Governor Crist and FDLE hosted the Annual Florida Missing Children’s Day Ceremony in Tallahassee on September 13th, 2010.  At the event Citrus County School District’s own Kathleen Picard was named “School Bus Operator of the Year”.  During the presentation they said that, “Picard’s alertness while at work led to the arrest of a man who had been inappropriate with two children.” Thank you Ms. Picard for working to keep our children safe.

Governor Crist and FDLE released the following information:

During 2009, approximately 41,154 incidents of missing children were reported missing to law enforcement agencies throughout Florida.  Amber Alerts have aided in the rescue of 52 children, including one this year to date.  In 2008, Governor Crist signed the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act which expanded the authority of FDLE’s Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) to provide assistance on investigations involving missing adults younger than 26 and missing adults age 26 and older who are suspected by law enforcement to be in danger. Since then, MEPIC has provided assistance in more than 249 missing adult investigations.

This past weekend, advertisers with the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, and its member advertising companies, donated billboard space as part of an ongoing effort to feature missing children and adults. Lamar, Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS outdoor featured 25 missing children and adults on their digital billboards throughout the state.

FDLE continues to invite the public to sign up to receive e-mail alerts containing information on missing and abducted children. Citizens and businesses can sign up to receive Missing Child Alerts and Amber Alerts via e-mail or text message by visiting www.missingchildrenalert.com.

For more information, or to view photos of missing children, please visit www.fdle.state.fl.us or contact the FDLE Missing Endangered Persons Clearinghouse at 1-888-FL MISSING (1-888-356-4774).

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