We urge the state Legislature to pass legislation under consideration that would protect vulnerable people who could be harmed by predators.
Both houses are considering what is termed "Kimmie's Law." House Bill 2477 is being promoted by Representatives Hans Zeiger and Bruce Dammeier, both Puyallup Republicans. The bill would expand the Amber Alert system to include people who have health conditions or mental or physical disabilities who could be in danger of harm from abductors, or lost.
The current Amber Alert system prompts law enforcement agencies to broadcast information about known kidnapping or child-abduction cases with flashing reader boards on highways and media alerts. The legislation is inspired by the 2010 abduction and murder of Kimmie Daily, a 16-year-old girl with a developmental disability who lived on South Hill. Her parents became worried when she did not arrive home when expected. She was strangled and her body dumped in a vacant lot. The suspect, an 18-year-old male neighbor, was arrested and awaits trial on a charge of aggravated first-degree murder.
Law enforcement officials did not immediately issue an Amber Alert when informed that Daily was missing. This was due to the fact there was no indication a crime had been committed. She was considered to be a teenager who simply was late getting home.
Kimmie's Law would require law enforcement agencies to issue an alert within six hours upon receiving word that a vulnerable person is missing.
Last October Jennifer Pimental, 27, went missing. She was strangled, and her body was found in Port Townsend. She was seen alive in the days after her disappearance. Had an alert been issued within six hours, someone may have learned of this information and reported her sighting to authorities.
Just a few weeks ago, an 84-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease was found on Vashon Island after being missing for several days. He was found in relatively good health and had apparently wandered from his house.
Senator Debbie Regala, a Tacoma Democrat, has sponsored a companion bill in the Senate.
Government will never be able to stop all the evil and mishaps in society. But it does have an obligation to take steps to protect the vulnerable among us. These bills are a good step in that direction.
