The Michigan Lottery has partnered with the Michigan State Police (MSP) to share AMBER Alerts with its network of retailers throughout the state. The partnership will help quickly reach Michiganders in nearly every corner of the state when an AMBER Alert is issued, expanding the reach of the alert and aiding law enforcement in their effort to reunite missing children with their family.

“As governor and a former county prosecutor, keeping our children safe is a top priority,” said Governor Whitmer. “With today’s collaboration between the Michigan State Police and Michigan Lottery, we can get AMBER Alert information out to nearly 10,000 retailers across the state quickly, helping us locate missing children and save lives. Since I took office, we have invested more than $1.6 billion to protect public safety, and I will work with anyone to keep our families and communities safe.”

When an AMBER Alert is issued by law enforcement, an immediate terminal message regarding the alert will be sent to nearly 10,000 Lottery retailers. The message also will be displayed statewide on Lottery in-store display monitors including self-service equipment and Club Keno monitors until the alert has been cancelled. Retailers will be able to print and post copies of the AMBER Alert message in their store. A terminal message will be sent to retailers when the AMBER Alert is no longer in effect.

“As a former prosecutor and current member of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, a quick response from law enforcement and community members is critical when a child is missing or endangered,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “I am proud to utilize the Lottery’s resources in partnership with our retailers and the Michigan State Police to share AMBER Alerts with Michiganders throughout the state and help raise awareness of missing children so they can be brought home to their families quickly and safely.”

“When an AMBER Alert is issued, minutes matter. It is critical to disseminate information about the missing endangered child as quickly as possible and in as many locations as possible so the public can be our eyes and ears in helping to safely locate a missing child,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “We appreciate the Michigan Lottery’s partnership in helping to spread these lifesaving messages.”

The Michigan AMBER Alert plan is a partnership between law enforcement and the media to help in the immediate dissemination of information to the public about an abducted child. AMBER Alerts are urgent bulletins issued utilizing the Emergency Alert System to interrupt radio and television broadcasting in the most serious child-abduction cases. The America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert Program is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry. AMBER Alert of Michigan is supported by the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Lottery, Michigan Sheriff’s Association, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.