The statewide Turquoise Alert was initially touted as a way to swiftly disseminate info about Indigenous peoples who've gone missing. But the first-ever alert issued in Arizona this week highlighted how lawmakers expanded criteria beyond the framers' intent.

Arizona has four types of emergency alerts that can be activated when other law enforcement methods have been exhausted.

On July 23, Arizona activated its recently-created Turquoise Alert for the first time. While the alert was subsequently canceled, the activation also led to some questions over what kinds of missing person cases qualify for Turquoise Alerts.