Lottery + Amber Alerts: Virginia Beach idea goes statewide

VIRGINIA BEACH

Virginia Lottery officials hope to increase the odds of finding missing or abducted children through a new partnership with the state police.

More than a year ago, Virginia Beach resident Christopher Divers came up with an idea that paired the organization with the state police. Last month Divers’ idea came to fruition when the Virginia Lottery began using its in-store equipment to display Amber Alerts.

The notifications, which broadcast information about missing or endangered children, will now be displayed on lottery screens throughout Virginia.

Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said having an additional place to broadcast the emergency notifications is critical.

“Seconds count because that child is in imminent danger,” Geller said. “Having their displays broadcasts that information to thousands of people we may not have been reaching before. It’s just another way for us to bring home a missing or endangered child and bring them home faster and safer.”

In addition to lottery screens, the statewide alerts are also broadcast through the Emergency Alert System, electronic message signs operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia State Police Facebook page and the Virginia Realtors Association.

The Virginia Amber Alert Program began in 2002 and has been used to issue 29 alerts for missing and endangered children.

Lottery spokesman John Hagerty said the Amber Alert messages will scroll across the tops of the nearly 700 self-service Lottery Express vending machines in the state – and along the display screens above the 5,000 clerk-operated lottery terminals. Typically, these screens display jackpot amounts and other marketing messages from the lottery.

In the case of an Amber Alert, the display screens will instruct the public to go to www.vaamberalert.com for details concerning the missing or endangered child as well as information regarding the abductor.

So far, Hagerty said, the lottery has not had to broadcast an Amber Alert on its electronic displays but is glad the organization now has the capability if needed.

“The idea is to let people know the Amber Alert has been activated, and it tells them where to go for more information,” Hagerty added. “We’re really happy that lottery equipment will be able to be used in an Amber Alert situation.”