Child Abduction Response Team exercise planned

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The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, inconjunction with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, will conduct a mockChild Abduction Response Team (CART)drill, on Tuesday September 18, 2012.
The exercise will be conducted within the City of Marathonand will be limited to that area. The Sheriff’s Office and FDLE have conductedtwo similar exercises in the past, one in Key Largo and this past year in theKey West and Lower Keys area.
The purpose of the drill is the same as if a hospital, orairport would conduct a disaster drill. It helps to identify weaknesses andareas the team can improve on, but most importantly demonstrates to thepersonnel participating, a sense of confidence and knowledge which will make anactual incident run smoother and more efficiently.
CART teams have been set up across the country in an effortto quickly and effectively respond to child abductions. Monroe County’s CARTteam underwent initial training in the spring of 2007 and have been undergoingcontinuing training since then.
“We hope the need will never come, but should such anightmare arise, we want to have a team that is prepared to work quickly,” saidSheriff Bob Peryam. “By practicing our response ahead of time, and knowing whatneeds to be done, we stand a much better chance of bringing an abducted childhome safely,” he said.   
According to statistics by the National Center for Missingand Exploited Children, 91% of abducted children are killed within 24 hours ofbeing taken. That is why the first hours of a child abduction are crucial, andit is extremely important for law enforcement to respond quickly, and to bringall their resources to bear as soon as possible after the abduction occurs. By practicing the response to a child abduction, all the agenciesinvolved make sure they know one another, and make sure they know what isexpected from them in a real event.
Agencies which participate in the Monroe County CART teaminclude:
·        Monroe County Sheriff’s Office·        Florida Department of Law Enforcement·        Federal Bureau of Investigation·        Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission·        Florida Department of Children and Families·        Florida Department of Corrections·        Florida Keys Children’s Shelter·        High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group·        Islamorada Fire Rescue·        Immigration and Customs Enforcement·        Key Largo Fire Rescue·        Marathon Fire Rescue·        Monroe County Fire Rescue·        Islamorada Fire Rescue·        Islamorada K-9 Search and Rescue Team·        Monroe County State Attorney’s Office·        Key West Police Department·        United States Coast Guard Auxiliary