I got an automated call at 10:30 pm last night. Code Red was the caller ID name. The call was from a local police department with information about a girl who was missing just a few blocks from my home. The call had all the pertinent information . . .
Maya Fleckenstein
- Maya Fleckenstein
- Black hair
- brown eyes
- Wearing a blue tee shirt, blue jeans and orange shoes
- Last seen at 10:00 pm ET
- Corner of West 130 St and Sprague Rd in Cleveland, Ohio
- If seen, call Parma, Ohio Police at 440-885-1234
The message asked me to check my yard. We have no streetlights, so it was very dark. I turned on the outside lights and looked around. I noticed there were other lights on down the street. I wondered how many of them were checking for Maya, too.
I watched the 11:00 pm local news hoping to hear that Maya had been found safe, but there was nothing. And no report this morning, either. So I did a little research this morning. I went to the Parma, Ohio Police Department website. There was no news about Maya, even though there was a section with News Releases and another with Alerts.
So, I tried WOIO‘s website, a local TV channel. I didn’t see a news story, but a search of the site found an article from January 21, 2010. There it was … Maya’s picture, a video and the story of how she walked away from her school. If this happened in January, why did I get the call in April?
Next, I called the Parma Ohio Police Department. The phone number in the message I got was the non-emergency number at the police station. The dispatcher explained to me that Maya is a problem child and has run away in the past. Last night, she was with her mother, driving to the hospital and Maya suddenly jumped out of the car. How frightening! She was found safe a short time later.
I didn’t mind that the phone rang at 10:30 pm. In fact, I feel even safer knowing that this automated system is in place. I wonder what other emergencies and disasters would be reported this way. I love technology and think this is a great use of computerized phone calls. Parma is a neighboring suburb. I hope my city has Code Red, too.
