Anger at wee hours Amber Alert via cellphones shows education needed: experts
TORONTO — Anger at cellphone Amber Alerts that rouse people from their sleep is misplaced and shows the need for more public education, observers said on Tuesday.
People need to understand that the emergency alerts are only issued when police need help in finding a child they believe is in grave peril — usually the result of an abduction, they said.
Ken McBey, a professor at York University who specializes in social and behavioural elements in emergencies, said those who light up 911 to complain about the alerts are being “incredibly selfish.”
“It’s just one of those trade-offs: It’s a matter of balancing off individual interests for what’s best for society,” McBey said. “Part of this is actually shaping perceptions. To a certain degree, emergency authorities have a sales job to do. They haven’t done it as well as they could have.”