Alabama Fusion Center Operations Streamline Missing Person and AMBER Alerts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Fusion Center has intensified its 24-hour intelligence sharing operations to expedite the recovery of missing persons, with officials urgently dispelling the long-standing myth that families must wait 24 hours before filing a police report. According to ALEA officials, the Fusion Center processed 90 statewide alerts in 2025 alone, utilizing a network of 80 fusion centers nationwide to coordinate rapid responses across jurisdictional lines.

Fusion Center Director Jay Mosley describes the facility as a central intelligence hub designed to bridge communication gaps between local, state, and federal agencies. Created in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks to bolster counterterrorism efforts, the center’s mission has expanded significantly to include public safety emergencies. “It’s phone calls, it’s text, it’s emails, it’s whatever works at that moment to be the most efficient at what we do,” Mosley stated in an interview with ABC 33/40, emphasizing the critical nature of speed in these investigations.

Intelligence Analyst Rachel Salter stressed that the most dangerous misconception hindering law enforcement is the belief that a waiting period exists for reporting missing persons. “There’s often the misconception that you have to wait 24 hours and that’s not the case,” Salter said. She advised families to call 911 immediately and provide personal identifiers, height, weight, and a clear photo to expedite the process. Mosley added that during the time it takes to drive between cities, a missing person could cross state lines, making immediate reporting vital.

In 2025, the center issued 90 alerts, including one AMBER Alert, one Blue Alert, 67 Missing and Endangered Person Alerts (MEPA), and 21 Emergency Missing Child Alerts. Additionally, 111 cases were posted for community awareness. Officials noted that strict U.S. Department of Justice guidelines dictate the issuance of AMBER Alerts, which require a confirmed abduction and imminent danger of bodily harm or death. Other classifications, such as the Emergency Missing Child Alert, are utilized when law enforcement cannot yet confirm an abduction but believes a child is endangered.

The efficacy of the interstate network was highlighted by a 2022 case involving a 12-year-old girl abducted from the Wiregrass area and transported into Georgia. Salter reported that rapid coordination with Georgia counterparts led to the safe recovery of the child and the apprehension of the suspect. “By the time it made it to us to issue the Amber Alert, we knew we had to get our counterparts in Georgia involved,” Salter explained, citing the collaborative power of the national fusion center network.

Operational Strategy & Public Safety Impact

The operational framework of the Alabama Fusion Center illustrates a shift in modern policing toward data-centric, interagency collaboration. By centralizing intelligence and automating the dissemination of alerts—such as Blue Alerts for injured officers or MEPAs for vulnerable adults—state law enforcement reduces the friction often caused by jurisdictional boundaries. This streamlined approach is particularly critical in abduction scenarios where perpetrators utilize interstate travel to evade capture. The continued integration of public tips with high-level data analysis remains a cornerstone of this strategy, ensuring that community awareness is effectively leveraged as a tactical asset in time-sensitive investigations.

It is important to note that all individuals arrested or accused in connection with criminal investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.