Missing Persons SOG 402.4 (SGT/2015)

Question 1

SPD will investigate

Answer 1

all missing persons, adult and

juvenile, in a prompt and expedient manner.

Question 2

At-Risk Person definition….

Answer 2

Any missing person who is also considered to be physically or
mentally handicapped or presents a threat to themselves or others. This would include
persons who have been diagnosed with mental disorders, are suicidal or afflicted with
Alzheimer’s, diabetes, coronary heart disease or other debilitating disorder.

Question 3

Media Alert definition…

Answer 3

Steps taken by the PAO or designee to contact local media in order to get
live media assistance, which will allow the public to assist in locating missing at-risk
individual(s).

Question 4

Missing Person definition…

Answer 4

Any person, child or adult, whose whereabouts are unknown and
whose absence is unexplained or suspicious.

Question 5

Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Missing Person Alert/Advisory

Answer 5

A series of alerts or advisories (AMBER Alert, Endangered SILVER Advisory, and Endangered Persons Advisory.

Question 6

AMBER Alert definition….

Answer 6

A statewide system to aid in the identification and location of an
abducted child who is less than eighteen years of age and reasonably believed to
be the victim of the crime of kidnapping.

Question 7

Endangered SILVER Advisory definition…

Answer 7

rapidly disseminate information about a
missing and endangered adult who is 60 years of age or older and believed to be
suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.

Question 8

Endangered Person Advisory definition..

Answer 8

rapidly disseminate information about a
missing and endangered person who does not fall under the AMBER Alert
qualifications.

Question 9

The on-scene investigating officer shall determine if there were any signs of

Answer 9

involuntary abduction (such as a struggle, disarray, or abandoned purses).

Question 10

When the person is reported missing under suspicious circumstances

Answer 10

the responding Patrol Officer shall notify a supervisor immediately.

Question 11

The supervisor will ensure that the on-duty watch commander is…

Answer 11

immediately notified.

Question 12

The on-duty watch commander shall contact …

Answer 12

Persons Section if

the missing person call appears suspicious.

Question 13

determines through
the investigation that the missing person is a child under the age of 12, an
elderly person suffering from dementia, an individual with a mental or physical
handicap, or any other individual determined to be at risk

Answer 13

the Officer shall

notify a supervisor immediately.

Question 14

The Patrol Supervisor shall initiate a (thorough) search of the ..

Answer 14

immediate area

where the person was reported missing from

Question 15

If the Patrol Supervisor determines that a more extensive search is
necessary they will make notification to ….

Answer 15

the on-duty Watch Commander.

Question 16

the on-duty Watch

Commander. Will determine the need for the following:

Answer 16

• Additional officers to assist in the search
• Use of special equipment –thermal imaging equipment, air or marine support, etc.;
• Assistance of other law enforcement agencies or rescue units;
• Provisions for medical assistance;
• Logistical requirements;
• Establishment of a command post.

Question 17

Before starting the MSHP Missing Person Alert/Advisory process, the Patrol Supervisor should determine if one of the following criteria is present:

Answer 17

• missing person has been abducted and is in danger of serious bodily harm or death, OR
• an investigation that has verified abduction or ruled out an alternative explanation, OR
• missing person has a verifiable/documented medical condition that would endanger their life if they were not located within a short period of time.

Question 18

Requirements for an Amber Alert are..

Answer 18

• There is reasonable belief an abduction has taken place.
• The victim is less than 18 years old;
• There is reasonable belief the victim is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death;
• There is descriptive information about the victim and the abductor;
• Parental disputes do not apply unless a possibility of harm to the child has been
  determined.

Question 19

Once Amber Alert requirements are met info must be entered into..

Answer 19

NCIC by Records personnel as required by the National Child Search Assistance Act.

Question 20

Requirements for a Endangered SILVER Advisory are..

Answer 20

• The person is 60 years of age or older and believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment;
• A legal custodian of the missing person has submitted a missing person’s report
  to the local law enforcement agency where the person went missing;
• There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could
  assist in locating the missing adult.

Question 21

Requirements for a Endangered Person Advisory are…

Answer 21

• Circumstances must not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert.
• Circumstances must not meet the criteria for an Endangered SILVER
  Advisory Alert.
• The person must be missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious
  circumstances.
• The person must be believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or
  physical disability, environment or weather conditions, in the company of a
  potentially dangerous person, or some other factor that may put the person in
  peril.;
• Information is available that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the
  missing person.
• The Patrol supervisor will also contact the PAO to issue a full media alert.

Question 22

The Patrol Supervisor will contact the PAO to issue a full media alert for..

Answer 22

Amber Alert, Endangered SILVER Advisory, and Endangered Person Advisory

Question 23

The Watch Commander shall be notified on all

Answer 23

The Watch Commander shall be notified on all Police Department Media Alerts and/or MSHP Missing Person Alert/Advisories.

Question 24

Recovered Unattended Child Response

Answer 24

• obtain personal information from the child to aid in locating a parent, or person having legal custody.
  -gathered request a check through MULES/NCIC
  – The officer shall attempt to contact the child’s guardian.
  – The officer shall attempt to contact the child’s guardian.
  -If the officer takes protective custody of the child, the
  Missouri Department of Social Services will be
  Notified and asked to respond to take temporary
  custody of the child.
  -the Missouri Department of Social Services may be
  notified and asked to respond to take temporary protective custody of child.
  – If the child is a confirmed runaway the officer may
  contact the Greene County Juvenile Office to request
  that the child be held in Juvenile Detention

Question 25

The media will be requested to provide the following services when a media alert is needed:

Answer 25

• Television will air information about the missing person every 15 to 30 minutes
• Radio will announce, at a minimum, information about the missing
  person every 30 minutes or less.

Question 26

Missing person followup…

Answer 26

• Criminal Investigations shall be responsible for any follow-up investigation of missing persons, including runaways.
  – The case supervisor shall
  -notify a Records Section Supervisor of any
  changes or revisions.
  -insure contact is made with the reporting person
  and maintain contact with them on a regular
  basis.