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Code Adam Program
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 Operation Locate Our Children is an enthusiastic supporter of Code Adam, one of the
country's largest child-safety programs.
Code Adam was created and promoted by the Wal-Mart® retail stores and named in memory of 6-year-old Adam Walsh whose 1981 abduction/murder at a Florida shopping mall brought the horror of child abduction to national attention.
How Code Adam works
When a customer reports a missing child to a store employee, a "Code Adam" alert is announced over the public-address system. A brief description of the child is provided to designated employees who immediately stop their normal work to monitor all exits and begin a search. If the child is not found within 10 minutes or is seen with someone other than a parent or guardian, store personnel contact the local police department. Since the Code Adam program began in 1994, it has been adopted by more than 25,078 stores across the nation.
Code Adam has helped reunite many children with their families, and thwarted a number of child abductions. Here are a few of the success stories:
- The Code Adam procedure stopped the attempted abduction of a 3-year-old girl from a Wal-Mart store in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The abductor, who had a prior record of child abduction, was arrested and later convicted.
- In Pascagoula, Mississippi, a local 7-year-old disappeared while shopping with her parents. Code Adam was quickly implemented to search for her. By 6:00 the following morning, thanks to outstanding work by the Pascagoula Police Department, the child was recovered safely a state away.
- Letter from a Thankful Parent to the Montgomery Shop Rite in Skillman, NJ:
"I just want to say thank you!!! Today, my son wandered away from me while shopping. My daughter and I began looking and calling for him with no luck. I was panicked. I went to the courtesy counter and told a female employee I couldn't find my son. She immediately took the necessary information, picked up the phone and began a Code Adam. As I rounded the corner of the courtesy counter to continue searching for my son, another customer was in the distance, my son in hand, bringing him towards the courtesy counter!!!! I've never been so afraid in all my life. I finished up my shopping, checked out, got to my car and cried! I can't thank the staff of Shop Rite enough for acting so quickly and professionally. I am very thankful that Shop Rite has Code Adam in place. It should give every parent a sense of relief to know that this program exists. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!!!!!"
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