What is a Silver Alert? Bulletin issued for missing 22-year-old with medical condition
Phoenix, Arizona: A Silver Alert has been issued for a 22-year-old Colton Weverka after he went missing in Phoenix on Monday, authorities said. Colton was last seen on foot near Paradise Village Parkway and Cactus Road.
He is wearing a brown t-shirt, dark blue shorts, a light gray fanny pack and light gray flip flops. Weverka is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weights 145 pounds and has brown hair with black eyes. He has a medical condition that can cause him to become confused and easily lost.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Phoenix Police Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit at 602-534-2121, or after hours at 602-262-6141.
What is a Silver Alert?
A Silver Alert is a public notification system that broadcasts information about missing persons — especially senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities — in order to aid in locating them. The criteria for initiating a Silver Alert vary by state, but they typically include the missing individual being a senior citizen or someone with a proven mental or developmental disability, the disappearance posing a credible threat to the individual's health and safety, and sufficient information available to aid the public in locating the individual.
What do the various colors in alert systems signify?
Amber Alert: Amber Alerts are bulletins issued in the most serious child-abduction cases, to alert the public quickly about the abduction of children under 18.
Silver Alert: This alert is used for missing persons, particularly seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other mental disabilities who are missing and are believed to be in danger. Some states include adults of any age with mental disabilities in this alert.
Blue Alert: Blue Alerts are used to notify the public about violent suspects who have killed or seriously injured law enforcement officers, or when an officer has been abducted or is missing.
Green Alert: Some states use Green Alerts to help locate missing veterans, particularly those with physical or mental health conditions (such as PTSD) that are believed to be at risk for personal harm.
Yellow Alert: This type of alert can be used to help identify and locate hit-and-run drivers.
Red Alert: Red Alert systems are used in some regions to notify the public about various severe threats, such as a terrorist attack.
Orange Alert: This alert is sometimes used for broader public safety warnings, including dangerous individuals who might pose a threat to the public.