‘Most wanted’ to appear on billboards

Indianapolis will soon become one of only 20 U.S. cities to try and help the FBI apprehend wanted criminals through the use of digital billboards.\nThe billboards typically contain the picture of the wanted person, what that person is wanted for and the contact information for the local FBI agency, said Ross Rice, spokesperson for the Chicago field office of the FBI. The billboards will change as the bureau gets updated information about the suspects pictured. \nClear Channel Outdoor, a global outdoor advertising company, has agreed to let the FBI use some of its billboards throughout various U.S. cities free of charge, according to a press release from the company. Wendy Osborne, FBI spokesperson in Indianapolis, confirmed Indianapolis as being on the FBI’s list of cities that will have digital billboards appearing in the next couple \nof months.\nOsborne said Philadelphia was the first city with digital billboards containing information about fugitives. \n“The success of our ‘wanted’ messages on Clear Channel’s digital billboards in Philadelphia was an impressive testament to this new technology’s effectiveness in aiding law enforcement,” said FBI Community Relations Unit Chief Brett Hovington in a press release. \nThe digital billboards have been used in Chicago as well, Osborne said. \nRoss said the billboards have only been in use for about three weeks in Chicago. They have only had two local cases up but did not receive any tips \non them. \n“We are still in the learning process,” Ross said. \nClear Channel’s press release stated that the billboards will also be used for AMBER Alerts. AMBER alerts are designed to distribute information about abducted children to the public as quickly as possible. However, Indianapolis will only have information about criminals since Indiana already has an AMBER alert system in place, Osborne said. \n“The main focus is to profile fugitives,” Osborne said. \nOsborne and Jeff McKinley, president of sales at Clear Channel, said they are unsure of the exact day billboards in Indianapolis will be put up.