Arizona steps up to protect Native Americans with a new Turquoise Alert system, but it took the tragic death of a young Apache teen to spur this action.
At a Glance
- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed “Emily’s Law” creating a new alert system specifically for missing Native Americans
- The legislation was inspired by San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike, whose disappearance wasn’t immediately acted upon
- The “turquoise alert” system will notify the public when Native Americans under 65 go missing under suspicious circumstances
- Similar alert systems have been implemented in Washington, Colorado, California, New Mexico, and North Dakota
- The Federal Communications Commission established a new national alert code to support these state initiatives
A Long-Overdue Protection Measure
Arizona has joined several other states in implementing a specialized alert system designed to address the disproportionate number of missing persons cases in Native American communities. Governor Katie Hobbs recently signed legislation creating the “turquoise alert” system, officially named “Emily’s Law,” which will enable law enforcement to quickly distribute information about missing Native Americans throughout the state. The system focuses specifically on individuals under 65 who have disappeared under suspicious circumstances or are believed to be in danger.
The legislation passed unanimously through Arizona’s legislature, reflecting broad bipartisan support for addressing this critical issue. The new alert system joins similar initiatives in Washington, Colorado, California, New Mexico, and North Dakota, where various alert mechanisms have been established to address the same problem. The name “turquoise” was chosen for its spiritual and cultural significance to Native American communities, similar to how other states have used culturally meaningful terms like “feather” for their alert systems.
Emily Pike’s Tragic Legacy
The legislation bears the name of Emily Pike, a 15-year-old San Carlos Apache girl whose case highlighted serious flaws in how authorities respond to missing Native Americans. Pike disappeared from a group home in Phoenix, but her disappearance was not immediately reported or acted upon by authorities. Her body was later found in August 2023, underscoring the tragic consequences of delayed responses to missing person reports in Native communities.
“It breaks my heart that we, the state of Arizona, didn’t even go looking for this little girl. No one looked for her. We cannot let children go missing without somebody being alerted.”, said Rep. Teresa Martinez.
The FBI and the San Carlos Apache Tribe are currently offering rewards for information about Pike’s disappearance and death. Meanwhile, Arizona lawmakers have launched an investigation into the state’s Department of Child Services’ group home regulations following Pike’s case, seeking to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Her death has become a catalyst for meaningful change that may save countless lives going forward.
National Support and Broader Impact
The Federal Communications Commission has established a new national alert code specifically for missing and endangered persons, which will benefit Native American, Alaska Native, and Black communities that experience disproportionate rates of disappearances. This federal support amplifies the effectiveness of state-level initiatives like Arizona’s turquoise alert system, creating a more comprehensive safety net for vulnerable populations across the country.
“Like my sister says, even though she’s not here with us, she’s still making a difference.”, said Allred Pike Jr.
The movement to establish specialized alert systems reflects growing recognition of the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people across America. Native Americans face violence at rates far exceeding the national average, with cases often receiving inadequate attention from law enforcement and media. Emily’s Law represents one concrete step toward addressing this disparity by ensuring that when Native Americans go missing, the response is immediate, coordinated, and effective.
