MISSING PERSONS

Question 1

Silver Alert Program

Answer 1

An alert for a missing person who has left the scene in a vehicle and suffers a cognitive impairment including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to the extent that requires assistance from a caregiver; and whose disappearance poses a threat to the safety of

Question 2

is there a time frame for missing person

Answer 2

no

Question 3

All missing person reports must have a signed

Answer 3

Missing Persons Complainant Form

Question 4

In the absence of documentation from a parent, legal guardian, next of kin, physician or other authoritative source, including a friend or neighbor in unusual circumstances, or when such documentation is not reasonably attainable, a signed Missing Persons Complainant Form may be completed by the

Answer 4

investigating officer

Question 5

A missing person report shall be taken for any:

Answer 5

Individual missing from or last seen in the County

 Resident of another jurisdiction that is missing from a location in this County

Question 6

for a missing person officer must

Answer 6

Personally contact the complainant and conduct a preliminary investigation
 Upon confirmation, notify the sector supervisor to obtain a critical or non- critical classification
 Transmit an initial lookout for the individual and provide the dispatcher with additional information as it becomes available
 Obtain a photograph of all missing persons. Scan the image and attach within the RMS case folder; if a photograph is not available, note “NOT A V AILABLE” in the Case Record
 Contact the Teletype Unit via telephone within one hour to have the missing person entered into NCIC/METERS
 Complete a Case Record prior to the end of the watch; ensure that all notifications are recorded to include the notification to the Teletype Unit
 Obtain a signature from the complainant using the Missing Persons Complainant Form
 Scan the Missing Persons Complainant Form within the RMS case folder

Question 7

In all missing child cases, officers shall determine if the child:

Answer 7

Participated in the Child Fingerprint Program. If so, obtain the fingerprint card from the legal guardian and submit it, along with a copy of the Case Record, to the Latent Print Unit Has been the subject of a prior missing person report or a child abuse report
 Suffers from a mental or physical disability or illness
 Disappeared under suspicious circumstances
 May have been abducted
 Is less than 18 years of age

Question 8

A supervisor shall classify all cases as critical or non-critical by evaluating the following factors:

Answer 8

Age of the missing person
 Physical and mental health of the
missing person
 Repeated prior instances or absences by
the missing person
 Unusual circumstances surrounding the
absence of the missing person
 Ensure that the Missing Persons
Complainant Form is signed and subsequently scanned and attached to the RMS case folder prior to the end of shift
 Review and approve the Case Record prior to the end of their shift.

Question 9

On the scene of a critical missing person, the supervisor shall:

Answer 9

Notify the shift commander
 Establish a command post and advise the
dispatcher of its location
 Request additional personnel and
equipment if needed
 For confirmed cases involving a Missing
Child, when appropriate, enlist the aid of
Maryland State Police
 Ensure that a thorough search is
conducted, including the missing
person’s home
 Ensure that friends and relatives of the
missing person are contacted to establish when the missing person was last seen or heard from
 Request a Regional Investigative Division (RID) Investigator
 Notify the Media Relations Division (MRD)
 For juvenile abductions or custody disputes, ensure that the Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit is notified
 For cases involving ransom demands, ensure that the Robbery Unit is notified
 For possible homicide cases, ensure that the Homicide Section is contacted
 For cases that meet the criteria for a Silver or Amber Alert, ensure that the duty officer at MSP Headquarters is notified and document the duty officer’s name and identification number on the missing person report
 For substantiated Missing Child cases, institute appropriate intensive search procedures, including coordination of volunteer search teams

Question 10

The National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990 requires that all juvenile missing person reports be updated. This update, regardless of whether or not new information is obtained, must take place within how many days of the original date of entry.

Answer 10

60

Question 11

There are three different categories for records entered into NCIC/METERS Unidentified Person File:

Answer 11

Unidentified deceased persons, including victims of a catastrophe
 Unidentified living persons who are unaware of their identities, such as amnesia victims, small children, persons with Alzheimer’s disease, etc.
 Body parts