Late-Night 'Silver Alert' raises questions even though she helped find missing man

Albuquerque, NM-a nightly emergency warning message that awakened many new Mexicans, has initiated both criticism and reflection of the public and the police after a missing man was later found dead in Socorro County.

On Thursday at 12.45 p.m., a silver warning was sent to mobile phones in the counties in Bernalillo and Sandoval. The warning described a 77-year-old man who was last seen near Bernalillo the day before around 8 a.m. It contained a description of the vehicle he drove and asked everyone who discovered him to call 911.

While the alarm proved to be effective -a truck driver recognized the vehicle and alarmed authorities -many recipients were confused by the language and frightened by the timing.

“We had no idea what it was about. And after we read it, we still didn't know,” said Gary Brightbill. “We had no idea whether this person was missing because she was sick because of dementia – or he was a criminal and they tried to catch him. They did not state in one way or another.”

Another resident, Peggie Chavez, said the alarm had no context.

“It was somehow vague. I didn't understand if it was someone we should be careful or if they needed help,” said Chavez.

The New Mexico State Police says that the criticism is understandable, but the stress that the alert will have achieved its goal. NMSP SGT. Ricardo Breceda confirmed that the man was found dead after the truck driver reported to discover the vehicle on the I-25 in Socorro County. Breceda did not know how the man died, but emphasized how important it is.

“Just ask people to incorporate themselves into these families,” said Breceda. “If it were their beloved person, they want the law enforcement authorities to do everything in their power to find them.”

The state police say that the alarm is not a mistake. Although the man was last seen at 8 a.m., the authorities only received a report by a missing person shortly after midnight. The warning was issued to the nearby counties within an hour – probably the area in which the truck driver received it.

The case takes place only one day after the police have announced a new guideline: silver warnings for missing adults over 50 and turquoise warnings for missing American indigenous people directly to mobile phones – similar to Amber warnings for children.

Breceda said the department checked the wording and the delivery of the warning to avoid confusion in the future.

“We would like to make sure that we deliver the necessary information to the public,” said Breceda.