The Child Abduction Response Team (CART) is a commitment by the Iowa Department of Public Safety to work in conjunction with law enforcement, first responders, search professionals, and volunteers with thepurposeoflocatingamissingperson.
CARTdedicatesdepartmentalassetsinresponsetoa reported missing person and brings to bear incident management, expertise, and resources for search and recovery. CART is part of the Division of Criminal Investigation and consists of all departmental members, sworn and non-sworn.
When can CART be activated?
Any Report that Qualifies as an AMBER Alert
Any Iowa AMBER Alert or an AMBER Alert from another jurisdiction that would qualify as an Iowa AMBER Alert coupled with a reasonable belief the subject of the alert may be in Iowa.
Non-familial Abduction of a Child Under the Age of 18.
Report of a non-familial abduction of a child under the age of 18, with a reasonable belief the subject of the alert may be in Iowa.
Missing Children Under the Age of 18
Any missing child under the age of 18 where at least one (1) of the following criteria are met:
Outside the child's "zone of safety"
Documented intellectual or physical disability
Documented medical condition or prescription drug dependency
Extreme environment or weather conditions
Natural Disasters
Any report of a missing person, regardless of age, as the result of a natural disaster or manmade disaster
How do I request CART?
An activation request can be made by a local agency leader. Requests should be sent to the appropriate Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Major Crimes Unit (MCU) Zone Special Agent in Charge (SAC) and the CART Coordinator. The Zone SAC will work with the local agency to gather current information, confirm the missing person is entered into NCIC, and share details with the Coordinator. After reviewing the case, a decision will be made on activation and resources.
