'Amber Alert' cases could be carried on Vegas casino marquees

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Information about abducted children might be splashed across casino marquees or on electric signs hung from helicopters as part of an "Amber Alert" system being developed in Nevada.

"Our goal is that if we call to request it, (casinos) can get one of their engineers to change a sign within minutes," said Sgt. Thomas Wagner, a Las Vegas police juvenile missing persons detective.

He outlined the fledgling proposal Thursday during training for southern Nevada law enforcers. He acknowledged that Las Vegas is unique for its number of programmable casino marquees.

Brian Kunzi, a senior deputy state attorney general hosting the training, said Las Vegas hotel security chiefs were asking hotels to take part in the program.

Lesley Pittman, spokeswoman for Station Casinos, welcomed the concept.

"We would be happy to do what we can to get those messages spread throughout the (Las Vegas) valley," said Pittman, whose company has seven programmable electronic marquees at neighborhood casinos.

Nevada, like other states, plans to use programmable freeway signs and television and radio bulletins to publicize information about child abduction cases, Kunzi said.

Few cases would qualify for "Amber Alert" notices, he said, stressing that cases would trigger an alert only if they involve an abducted child believed by law enforcement officials to be in imminent danger.

Kunzi and Wagner said the owner of a Las Vegas helicopter service has offered to post information on electronic signs on helicopters that would circle neighborhoods where police were searching.

"They've got a reader board that attaches to the skids of their helicopters for advertising," Kunzi said.

The training session comes a day after President Bush signed a child protection bill establishing a national "Amber Alert" system and less than a week after the state Legislature approved forming a committee of police and broadcasters to oversee such a system. Gov. Kenny Guinn is expected to sign the law.

"Amber Alert" programs used in California and 40 other states are named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl who was abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later found slain.

Kunzi is leading training sessions next week for law enforcers in Reno, Winnemucca and Elko.