According to FBI.gov, there were 476,373 missing children (under 18 years of age) in 2012 in the U.S and Michael O’Neal with Keeping Kids Safe (KKS) is on a mission to lower that number.
O’Neal has been in law enforcement for over 17 years and has served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer, as well as having been a Patrol Deputy Sheriff. He also has a degree in criminology. O’Neal was also a Deputy Sheriff in Cumberland County for 14 years.
O’Neal is currently working on a new phone app that gives parents and law enforcement a quick way to make a missing person poster and spread that information instantly.
“The main function of the app is to have information of your missing child, teen, elderly, or loved one readily available on your phone,” says O’Neal.
While there are similar phone apps out there, O’Neal says that he is adding a few different features to make his app more family friendly and useful.
“When someone goes missing, you will put in all the information into the app and press send, the app will create a missing person poster, which is what the other side will receive from that person; the poster can also be shared to Facebook to widen the audience who sees the poster. Not just law enforcement can create a missing poster, but anybody with the app as well,” says O’Neal. “When you download the app, there will also be sections for training for internet safety, short educational videos, and other sources so that the app can be a one stop shop for parents to receive education, training, and keep track of their child anywhere in the world.”
There are some criteria that a child needs to meet before an Amber Alert goes out, which can sometimes take a while. This app will send out a missing person alert much faster, which is a great alternative.
The app will also have a feature just for law enforcement where all missing person posters can be found with a case number.
Currently, when a child or teen goes missing, an officer shows up, takes the report, and creates what is called a File 6, also known as a missing person report. Unfortunately a File 6 does not always include much detail about the missing person, such as how long they have been missing, a photo, or other personal information, O’Neal said. With the new app, dispatch will have another alternative. The way the algorithm of the app works is with a 100-mile radius; every hour that child is missing, the algorithm will go out another 100 miles, because it is possible to travel 100 miles in one hour, widening the radius every hour.
The app will not only have information about the missing person, but also, once more information is obtained about who the missing child is with, the app will also include details and information about the predator, including any photos.
“Recognition, especially facial recognition, is very important in law enforcement,” says O’Neal. O’Neal is working on the app with Mark McDonald, a former Thompson police officer who now has an IT company that he is working with as well as owner of Ligh Sheild Services LLC, and also Steve Thibeault, a Sagadahoc Deputy Sherriff.
“The three of us are discussing back and forth on what law enforcement really needs to make this very effective,” says O’Neal. “We are currently in the process of getting the ins and outs of the app created, and we are almost at the prototype, testing the app and also talking with law enforcement to see what we can do to make it easier for them.”
Being non-profit, finances are one of the biggest challenges that O’Neal and KKS have come across, but he hopes that the app will fund itself by having a small maintenance fee for law enforcement. Donations are always welcome and can be sent to Keeping Kids Safe at 66 Deering Run Portland, ME, 04103.
Apart from missing children and teens, the app will also be for missing elderly who may wander off, as well as for missing pets.
“It is up to us,” says O’Neal, “to keep our family safe.” <