The Flagler County Emergency Communications Center has been recognized for joining the “Missing Kids Readiness Program,” county officials said on August 5, 2026.
The acknowledgement was presented at the APCO National Conference, with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) awarding the designation. Working alongside APCO, NCMEC helps set call-handling standards, shares proven approaches, and offers training aimed at communications centers that respond to cases involving missing or exploited children.
Emergency Communications Director Christina Mortimer said the designation reflected a lot of added effort across the agency, not just a single step or box to check. “It is critical that we have adequate training, policies, and best practices when handling these sensitive calls,” Mortimer said. “To receive this designation, all of our personnel had to complete additional trainings, provide a copy of our department’s Standard Operating Procedures regarding Missing Persons and show compliance of best practices.”
Mortimer accepted the recognition for the team during the national conference.
She pointed to the role dispatchers play in the first moments of a crisis, when seconds matter and emotions run high. “Our telecommunicators may be the first person a scared parent or caregiver talks to when their child is missing,” Mortimer said. “This recognition is a reflection of our team’s commitment to being prepared, continuing to learn, and doing everything we can to help keep the children in our community safe.”
