CONTACT: LaTonya Johnson
608.266.2500
MADISON – The following is a statement from State Senator LaTonya Johnson regarding the passage of a bipartisan proposal creating a ‘Green Alert’ in Wisconsin to help locate missing, at-risk veterans.
“Wisconsinites are familiar with Amber and Silver Alerts, which signal to law enforcement and members of the community that a child or elderly person has gone missing. The bill passed by the Senate today, known as the Corey Adams Searchlight Act, gives us the tools we need to offer aid when a veteran goes missing.
“The bill is named for a Milwaukee Air Force Veteran and constituent of mine who passed away last year after going missing for 18 days. When Corey went missing, his family knew that something was wrong—Corey had left his eyeglasses, phone, money, and medications at his parent’s home, where he was last seen. Despite his family filing a missing person report within hours of his disappearance, it took eight days before he was determined to meet the critical missing criteria by the police.
“On April 7, 18 days after his initial disappearance, Corey Adams’ body was recovered from a pond in Dineen Park, just one mile from his mother’s home. This outcome could have been avoided if the public had been enlisted in the search for Corey sooner.
“We all share a duty to those who put their lives on the line to defend our country, and Green Alerts, like the current system of Amber and Silver Alerts, will help fulfill that duty by giving us, the public, the opportunity to be on the lookout and help bring our missing veterans home safely.
“If a soldier goes missing in the field, his or her unit will send out a search and rescue party. When an at-risk veteran goes missing at home, it should be all of our jobs to assist with the search however we can. By creating the Green Alert, we are honoring Corey’s memory and working to prevent other tragedies.
“I am proud of the bipartisan work on this bill and hope to see the State Assembly take swift action to pass this bill so that it can be signed into law.”
