LANSING – Michigan's largest outdoor advertising companies announced a statewide program supported by State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) to help law enforcement agencies find missing children and suspected criminals by broadcasting AMBER Alerts and photographs of wanted fugitives on digital billboards.
"As I work to move Michigan forward and create good-paying jobs for our workers now, I'm also fighting to protect the safety of our residents," said LeBlanc, who serves as House Chair of the State Police and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and is also a reserve police officer for the Canton Police Department. "Our quality of life depends in large part on keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe. These generous commitments from Michigan's major billboard companies will help our law enforcement do just that."
Under the program, member companies of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Michigan (OAAM), which includes CBS Outdoor and Lamar Advertising Co., along with Adams Outdoor Advertising, will volunteer their digital billboards across the state when AMBER Alerts are issued. The companies will also use their digital billboards to broadcast the photographs and names of fugitives wanted by the FBI and local police when a suspect is believed to be in the area.
When an AMBER Alert is issued or police believe a suspect is in a specific area, all pertinent information will be sent to the billboard companies, including a description of the suspect or missing child, a phone number to call with tips, the suspected crime, and a photo or photos if available. The companies use electronic templates to quickly create a digital image, which can be posted on the digital billboards within moments.
Lamar, Adams and CBS own a combined 32 digital billboards throughout Michigan, including seven in the Metro Detroit area.
"AMBER Alert programs have been very effective and have helped save the lives of hundreds ofchildren across the country," LeBlanc said. "Having access to these billboards is an invaluable tool for our law enforcement officials. It's a tremendous public service and we are very fortunate to have companies who are so committed to helping fight crime."