This October, Town Council approved an agreement authorizing the Town of Marana Police Department to join the Arizona Child Abduction Response Team (CART) in a statewide effort to find missing and abducted children. Twenty-five agencies are included in the agreement, including the Towns of Oro Valley and Sahuarita, the City of Tucson, Arizona Department of Public Safety, the City of Phoenix, and the the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
By joining CART, the Town of Marana contributes to a pool of specialized investigators who will focus investigative, preventive, and general law enforcement efforts to cases involving missing and abducted children across Arizona jurisdictions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation provides training opportunities for the agencies, including courses, roadside and neighborhood canvas training, and investigative and deployment simulations.
“When finding children, timing is of the essence,” said Marana Detective Debra Kesterson. “The first two or three days are the most important. The more resources there are, the better.”
CART is deployed when an agency receives a missing child report, and initial investigations determine that help is needed. Neighboring agencies are then contacted for assistance.
Town of Marana Police Department’s involvement with CART further demonstrates the organization’s dedication to public safety. In addition to the Town’s efforts, residents are also encouraged to be prepared in the case of a missing or abducted child.
“Keep current photos of your children and make sure their fingerprints are on file,” Detective Kesterson advised. “Always know where your children are at all times, who their friends are, and their contact information."
Read more about the Arizona Child Abduction Team
Read the Town of Marana Resolution No. 2016-101 authorizing the Intergovernmental Agreement
