The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has recognized Prince William County police for how the county’s 911 dispatchers respond to reports of missing children.
The organization has named Prince William a “9-1-1 Call Center Partner” because the county has a “model policy” for dispatchers to reference when handling missing-child reports and all staff at the county’s safety communications center have completed specialized training.
Prince William is the first agency in Virginia and the 31st in the nation to receive that designation from NCMEC, the police department said.
Police said nearly 850 children were reported missing in the county last year.
“The safety of children is a priority and the role of the 9-1-1 call taker is a vital one in cases when a child is reported to be missing,” Chief Charlie Deane said in a statement.
