COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Police Department recently formed a Child Abduction Response Team (CART) after several officers completed a specialized course focusing on child abductions.
Eighteen CPD uniform officers and detectives completed the two day course which stressed the importance of quickly determining what tasks need to be completed and what
additional resources are needed in the event of a child abduction.
The training that the officers received was coordinated by CPD Sergeants Matt Martindale and Courtney Plummer and consisted of both presentations and scenarios. CPD would like to expand the training later this year to include additional officers from CPD as well as neighboring law enforcement agencies.
“Child abductions can occur in any community, regardless of its size. Time is critical in solving these cases, and we cannot miss a chance to bring a child home as quickly as possible. To that end, the Columbus Police Department is developing a comprehensive Child Abduction Response Plan which will ensure we are taking all of the correct steps and leaving as little as possible to chance. Those officers who volunteered to attend this recent training are integral to that plan, and have gone above and beyond to prepare themselves so not a minute is lost. While we hope the need never arises to put this plan in motion, we believe our officers are equipped with the skills to safely bring an abducted child home,” Martindale said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
