In Arizona, while residents are familiar with emergency alerts such as Amber Alerts for child abductions and Silver Alerts for missing seniors, the Turquoise Alert—a new system introduced to address gaps for missing individuals—has gained limited traction. Since its launch, only one Turquoise Alert has been issued, despite nearly 300 individuals reported missing in the state.
Named after Emily Pike, a young member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who went missing earlier this year and was later found murdered, the Turquoise Alert system was established amid rising concerns about the disappearance of Indigenous people. Initially proposed to focus on Indigenous individuals due to their high rates of violence and disappearance, the measure was later expanded to include individuals aged 18 to 64, following amendments made during legislative discussions.
However, even Emily’s case would not meet the criteria for a Turquoise Alert. Chelsea Curtis, a reporter for Arizona Luminaria who specializes in covering missing and murdered Indigenous people, highlighted that Emily was categorized as a runaway, disqualifying her from the alert despite the tragic circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
This distinction raises critical questions about the effectiveness of the Turquoise Alert system. Curtis noted that many experts assert that anyone under 18 who goes missing should be treated as endangered, highlighting that runaways frequently face increased risks due to potential exposure to dangerous situations. Curtis explained that despite the alarming statistics regarding missing persons—300 cases growing since the alert’s inception—the Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated that none of these cases met the stringent criteria set forth by the law, which requires factors such as suspicious circumstances or imminent danger to trigger the alert.
DPS maintains that adhering to these strict parameters prevents public desensitization to alerts, although it raises concerns regarding the system’s overall efficacy, particularly in addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals. Curtis further indicated that the limited use of the alert may undermine its intended purpose of bringing attention to missing persons cases quickly.
As discussions continue regarding the future of the Turquoise Alert and strategies to ensure the safety of missing Indigenous children, experts suggest that there could be a growing need for increased resources aimed at prevention, such as family services and community support programs.
Moving forward, it appears essential for both lawmakers and community advocates to explore enhancements to the alert system and focus on preventive measures to mitigate the alarming trends in disappearances of Indigenous individuals in Arizona.