For 18 days last spring, Milwaukee Air Force veteran Corey Adams was missing, but it took 8 days before he met the criteria to warrant an official law enforcement search. His body was recovered in a pond just a mile from his home. His family, which notified authorities immediately when he went missing, went to State Senator LaTonya Johnson and asked for help, in hopes that no other family would have to go through such a traumatic event. Senator Johnson, with help from members of both political parties, wrote legislation proposing a Green Alert, just like the familiar Amber and Silver Alerts, which would be immediately broadcast by media when a veteran goes missing.
Last week the Green Alert bill, which is officially called the Corey Adams Searchlight Act, was unanimously passed on a voice vote in the Senate.
Johnson says she knows no law will bring Corey Adams back to his family.
Adams was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar disorder, and his family knew there was something wrong immediately when he left home without his phone, money, or medications. They organized search parties at once, but had to wait eight more days before law enforcement got involved. Johnson says her colleagues from both parties immediately supported the Green Alert Bill.
The bill now moves on to the Assembly, and then if passed, to the Governor for his signature.
