St Joseph police are hoping some new, specialized training can help them better handle calls involving missing or sexually exploited children.

Captain Matt Rock says police dispatchers recently completed 128 hours of enhanced training and is now better prepared to take this type of call.

The St Joseph Police Department recently became a 9-1-1 Call Center Partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The program acknowledges the department’s commitment to making children’s safety a priority.

The department has incorporated NCMEC best practices into its policies and training materials. Officials say every call to the SJPD Communications Center involving a missing and/or sexually exploited child must be handled according to these best practices.