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Sam Penrod Reporting...State officials honored two people today for their efforts in finding abducted children who were the subject of an Amber Alert.
The awards are named after Rachael Runyan, who was abducted and killed 21- years ago. It was in her name that the state began a missing child alert system last year. Now these awards will honor those who take information from future Amber Alerts and find missing children.
These crystal awards reflect an amber-colored base, symbolic of those who are instrumental in rescuing abducted children.
Jeff Salt took note of an Amber Alert in January, and soon saw the suspects walking the streets of Salt Lake City.
Jeff Salt, Rachael Runyon Award Recipient: "UNBEKNOWNST TO ME I WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE SITUATION AND THEY WERE JUST WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK HEADING TOWARD THE YWCA AND I WAS THE CITIZEN WHO MADE THE FIRST PHONE CALL."
3-year old Rachael Runyan, who was abducted in Sunset, Utah in 1982. Her mother was involved in developing a statewide alert system for missing children. In Utah, it was originally called the "Rachael Alert" but renamed last month to eliminate confusion with the national Amber Alert system.
Elaine Runyan-Simmons/ Mother of Abducted Child: "WE KNOW IN OUR HEARTS IT WAS THE RACHAEL ALERT THAT MADE IT GO AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S OKAY, WE'RE HERE TO FIND MISSING CHILDREN, AND IT'S WORKINGS, STATISTICS SHOW THAT IT'S WORKING."
Four alerts have been issued in Utah over the last 13 months.
To have an Amber Alert posted, state officials require four qualifications to be met.
Mark Shurtleff, Salt Lake County Attorney: "WE DO NOT WANT AN AMBER ALERT GOING OUT EVERY TIME A CHILD DOESN'T COME HOME FROM SCHOOL ON TIME, BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE WILL GROW USED TO IT AND WON'T BE ALERT"
Lt. Randall Richey of the Utah Highway Patrol, who found an AMBER Alert suspect in Heber City last month, says law enforcement needs the public to make the alerts work.
Lt. Randall Richey, Rachael Runyon Award Recipient: "I WANT PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE THAT FLASHING SIGN ON THE FREEWAY, ON THE RADIO OR TV, THAT THEY TAKE AND NOTE AND SAY WHAT KIND OF CAR ARE THEY LOOKING FOR, WE ARE ALL PARTNERS IN THIS AND WE NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO SAVE THESE CHILDREN."
Nationwide, the Amber Alert system is credited with helping 72- children who were abducted or missing to be found.
