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ISP communications officer played key role in finding Idaho girl

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MERIDIAN, Idaho — An Idaho State Police Regional Communication Supervisor is credited with finding a girl who was reported missing on April 16. The attention to detail and quick action by RCS DeLisa Orren made a difference in the case.

When the call came into the ISP Emergency Communications Center, it was originally an attempt-to-locate for a missing juvenile, possible runaway from southern Idaho. Instead of just forwarding the information to ISP troopers and other law enforcement officers, RCS Orren dug deeper into the information. What she found helped officials issue an AMBER Alert and find the girl.

"The goal of the Idaho State Police is changing and saving lives, and this is an outstanding example of ISP saving lives," said Colonel Kedrick Wills of RCS Orren's actions. "The action DeLisa took that night made the difference between this girl being returned to her family and being abducted by people who could have caused her harm."

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The information in the attempt to locate suggested the girl had run away, but RCS Orren looked into the people possibly associated with her. Orren found information that linked the suspects to previous assaults and human trafficking. RCS Orren contact the Rupert Police Department detectives and connected the case to the Idaho AMBER Alert System.

The girl was found by California Highway Patrol Troopers near Donner Pass less than 24 hours after she was reported missing. The two men suspected of abducting the girl were arrested and charged with kidnapping. More charges for human trafficking are pending further investigation.

Three other juveniles, who were with their non-custodial mother and were shortly due back in Idaho with the custodial parent, were found with the Idaho girl.

"Working in a small agency, an extra set of eyes from an experienced agency always helps, and in this case helped recover the missing juvenile," said Rupert P.D. Detective Kuoha about RCS Orren's actions. "Time is critical for recovery in a child abduction, and it may have been too late if not for the work of Ms. Orren".

"The action taken by DeLisa is not uncharacteristic for her or any of the people who work in ISP's two emergency communications centers. These people are genuinely dedicated to serving the citizens of Idaho and take the role they play very personally. Because of their work, this young girl was returned safely to her family," said ISP Captain Kevin Haight.

RCS Orren has served with the Idaho State Police for over 15 years and is currently a supervisor at ISP's emergency communications center in Meridian.