It is probably the same in any big store complex even dept stores.

No...it isn't thank God. Some places do take it seriously. A few years ago, I worked for about six months at a big chain Home Improvement Store. There was a special code for missing kids and as soon as somebody reported it...it went out over the loud speakers and all sales techs were instructed to check their own departments, and there would have been personnel at each exit.

No, Walmart beter shape up !!!! My little 3 yeaar old Granddaughter was shopping with Mom when she deceided to ride the esculator up to the next floor without her Mom knowing! Mom noticed she was gone, found a Police Officer immediately (she was in a large mall in Colorado), the Officer put out the call to everyone and the Mall locked the doors! No one in or out of the Mall until they found her! And that was ALL doors, even the back delivery ones! Didn't take too long to find her, she was up one floor but was playimg "hide and seek" under a rack of dresses! We were so gratful to that Mall, to the Officer and everyone! Needless to say.....No one played "Hide and Seek" for a while.

Maybe we should all send Walmart an E-Mail complaining and If enough people did this or called their Headquarters on the phone, they would have to take notice. Maybe we should all check thepolicy of our local Walmart. Would a letter to your Editor of your local newspaper help? Or a petition asking that that they change their policy? They should perhaps stop everyone leaving the store with a child and talk to the child.
I for one, am really sick at heart when I hear of all the Sex and Child Molestors! One time and they should be jailed for life or confined at home with an ankle bracelet ! NO second chance!
The same for Drunk Drivers !! Excuse me now......my sermon is over!
Oh, wait!....one more thing.....We need to let our Politicians know and demand that they pass laws concernning Sex and Child Molestors and Drunk Drivers. They should not have equal rights! A driver in our area, with 6 drunk driving convictions just killed an 18 year old High School fellow who was to graduate this Spring. Last year, a fellow with 13 drunk driving convictions killed a 21 year old young man. Enough is enough I SAY ! Now, I think my sermon is done...this is Sunday, isn't it?

Thank you---all of you for your input. I appreciate your stories and concern.

I have a pilot friend from 'way back at the PD---I'm going to ask him for help also---he's VERY family-oriented and speaks straight from the heart when it comes to kids. He can help me clarify things when I try to approach the managers at WM---so I don't sound like a lunatic grandmother, which I admit, I am----but that's between you guys and me...... :o)

I have been in Walmart when they did a "code Adam" and locked the doors until the child was found. They must have changed the policy. I bet a call or eamil to them with store details might get a responce from them.

I am glad that the child was found and congrats to you for taking an active approach! I get so tired so the "who cares" or "whatever" attitude that too many people have today. I have dealt with Wal-Mart on the policy end of things and let me tell you it isn't pretty. I trained service dogs for special needs children for a several years and, as you may know, all public places (for a few exceptions of wildlife sanctuary and churches) are required by federal to allow such animals into their stores and many states (such as mine) have the same laws for service animals in training. ANYWAY WM was/is notorious for not having education employees on these laws and 99% of the time you are stopped and told to get the dog/animal out of the store. Most of the time when explained everything is fine but other times it doesn't matter, police are called, and it is a big hassle (police are sometimes worse educated on the subject than the employees). Let me saw now that (in my experience) WM doesn't do anything unless it has too and after several lawsuits (harassment) many stores have a small "service animals permitted" sign on their entrances and others (like the ones here) have very large "service animals welcome" sign posted (thanks to new lawsuits). I have learned that if you want anything to happen within WM you have to hit them either in their wallet or on the image (or both!). I would organizing a group of concerned citizens and giving yourself a name, then write too and/or call WM and voice your concerns. If they don't listen or (worse) don't act get involved in the media. Your local news station is going to eat up the idea of a big bad stores being a dangerous place for children and you will probably be able to get some interviews (also with the paper) have a rally, go door to door and get signatures, rally to get national attention (like Good Morning America, etc). Once they get some spot light WM will make a policy but it is still hard to make sure that they reinforce it and may take a watchdog group.

Good luck, I applaud you!