Runaway/Missing Persons

Question 1

What age will you list someone as a missing adult?

Answer 1

18 years of age or older

Question 2

What must be present to enter someone into NCIC as a Missing Person? 2 points

Answer 2

• 18 years of age or older
• Whose absence is contrary to his or her normal patterns of behavior and may be due to unusual
  circumstances

Question 3

What must be present to classify someone as a missing juvenile?

Answer 3

 Younger than 18 years of age and

 Whose whereabouts are unknown to his or her parent or guardian

Question 4

What must be present to classify someone as a runaway?

Answer 4

 Younger than 18 years of age and

 Have left home or court ordered facility without permission of parents or legal guardian

Question 5

What are some unusual circumstances listed for missing adults and juveniles? 8 points

Answer 5

A missing juvenile 13 years of age or younger
 A juvenile or adult who is missing and believed to meet one or more of the criteria noted below:
 Could be in danger based on age, physical or mental condition
 Mentally diminished
 Potential victim of foul play or sexual exploitation
 May be in a life-threatening situation (environment)
 Absent from home for more than 24 hours before being reported to law enforcement as missing
 Believed to be with persons who could endanger his or herwelfare
 Is absent under circumstances inconsistent with established patterns ofbehavior

Question 6

Responding Officer Responsibilities in regards to runaway juvenile? 7 points

Answer 6

 Collect agency’s internal runaway report (if available)
 Obtain complete description of the juvenile to include a photo if possible, and any possible vehicles.
 Advise agency that it is their responsibility to contact the District Attorney’s Office or original
jurisdiction for filing of formal charges
 Enter juvenile into NCIC within 2 hours
 Put out a regional “Attempt to Locate”
 Complete a case report
 Officer should indicate on the report that a copy should be forwarded to the Juvenile Diversion
Officer for follow-up

Question 7

From Home or legal guardian, what should you obtain and how should you conduct the investigation?

Answer 7

 Obtain complete description of the juvenile to include a photo if possible, and any possible vehicles
 Complete an NCIC “missing persons” form
 Enter juvenile into NCIC within 2 hours
 Put out an “Attempt to Locate”
 Complete a case report
 Officer should indicate on the report that a copy should be forwarded to the Juvenile Diversion
Officer for follow-up

Question 8

Runaways entered by Cheyenne Police Department – Located within our jurisdiction:

Answer 8

 Any time a runaway (originating with the Cheyenne Police Department) is located, an officer will
physically verify the return before removing the runaway fromNCIC.
 The reporting officer will then complete a supplemental report, and indicate on the report that a
copy should be forwarded to the Juvenile Diversion Officer for caseclearance.

Question 9

Runaways located in our jurisdiction, but entered NCIC by an outside agency:

Answer 9

 Officers will take into custody any juvenile reasonably believed to be a runaway
 Officer will notify entering agency of the circumstances, and if possible, speak to the parent/guardian
of the juvenile, making arrangements for temporary housing, transportation, and pick up.
 If no acceptable arrangements for housing the juvenile can be arranged, the officer will contact the
District Attorney or his designee requesting secure temporary placement
 Complete a case report

Question 10

Juvenile Diversion Officer Responsibilities:

Answer 10

 Maintain thorough case files on runaway reports taken by the Cheyenne Police Department.
 Conduct and document regular follow-up on all runaway cases.

Question 11

Whenever a parent or guardian wishes to sign a complaint using Municipal Ordinance 9-16-010
(Prohibited Acts by Juveniles), the parent /guardian will be advised to do what?

Answer 11

Whenever a parent or guardian wishes to sign a complaint using Municipal Ordinance 9-16-010
(Prohibited Acts by Juveniles), the parent /guardian will be advised to contact Youth Alternatives
during business hours (0800-1700), Monday through Friday, for an appointment. The reporting officer
will make a notation on the case report that a referral has been made to Youth Alternatives.

Question 12

If the parent/guardian and juvenile have successfully completed counseling at Youth Alternatives and
the parent guardian requests a Municipal Court appearance, the officer will do what?

Answer 12

If the parent/guardian and juvenile have successfully completed counseling at Youth Alternatives and
the parent guardian requests a Municipal Court appearance, the officer will:
-
-complete the summons
-indicating in the narrative that the complainant has advised that counseling has been completed through Youth Alternatives.
-Officer will notify the parent/guardian that they are REQUIRED to appear
in court with the juvenile.

Question 13

Responding Officer Responsibilities in regards to missing persons is what?

Answer 13

 Determine if circumstances meet the definition of a missing juvenile or adult
 Thoroughly search the home and initiate largersearch.
 Notify supervisor when it is determined that “unusual circumstances” are determined to exist
 Gather as much information as is immediately available, including photographs and then transmit
appropriate radio alerts
 Enter person into NCIC as soon as possible (If under 21 years of age – must be entered within 2 hours).
 Complete a case report

Question 14

List some Resources/Tools to assist in missing person(s) investigations:

Answer 14

Resources/Tools to assist in missing person(s) investigations
 “Amber Alert”
 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Investigative Checklist)
 Wyoming Endangered Person Advisory (ThroughWHP)
 “A Child is Missing” (Children and vulnerable adults)
 Code Red
 Search and Rescue
 Cheyenne Fire and Rescue
 K-9
 Cheyenne Board of PublicUtilities
 F.E. Warren Air Force Base
 Laramie County Emergency Management
 National Missing and Unidentified Person System
 FBI

Question 15

What are supervisory responsibilities in regards to missing juveniles/persons?

Answer 15

Supervisory responsibilities
 Review circumstances and coordinate activities of participating personnel
 Request Detective Division response
 Assume overall command of the incident
 Determine if criteria have been met to activate available media alert systems and community assistance
 Establish command post
 Command staff and P.I.O. notification
 If facts and circumstances indicate that a missing person investigation is required, it will normally be turned over to Detective Division for investigation

Question 16

Who has been designated as the single point of contact for initiating an “Amber Alert” statewide?

Answer 16

The Wyoming Highway Patrol has been designated as the single point of contact for initiating an “Amber
Alert” statewide. This system utilizes the Emergency Alert System and the W.Y.D.O.T. electronic signs to
provide urgent bulletins for the most serious child abduction cases.

Question 17

In order for the “Amber Alert” system to be activated, ALL of the following criteria MUST be met: 3 points

Answer 17

 The abducted Juvenile must be younger than 18 years of age
 Circumstances surrounding the abduction indicated that the juvenile is in danger of serious bodily
harm or death
 Sufficient descriptive information exists about the juvenile, the abductor, and /or the suspect’s
vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast will help

Question 18

Procedure for issuing Amber Alert?

Answer 18

 Determine if all above listed criteria have been met
 Notify shift supervisor
 Shift supervisor will notify on-call staff officer
 Notify PIO
 On-call staff officer must approve any request for “Amber Alert” activation
 Call Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch at 777-4321. Dispatchers will ask the following to ensure
criteria has been met and will take the information over the phone:
• Law enforcement officer confirms the child has been abducted
• The child is 17 years of age or younger
• The officer believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death
• There is sufficient descriptive information about the child, the abductor, and/or suspect,
and vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast will help in recovering the child
 Establish a phone number for citizens to call with information and ensure that call takers are
prepared to handle phone calls
 Notify local FBI office

Question 19

If all criteria for an “Amber Alert” cannot be met, investigator may still initiate what?

Answer 19

If all criteria for an “Amber Alert” cannot be met, investigator may still initiate a “Wyoming Endangered
Person Advisory” through the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Question 20

Whats the criteria for issuing a Wyoming Endangered Persons Advisory?

Answer 20

Circumstances do not meet criteria for an “Amber Alert”
 Incident has been reported and investigated by law enforcement
 The person is missing under unexplained, involuntary or suspicious circumstances
 The person is believed to be in danger of death or serious injury
 There is enough information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the missing person

Question 21

Whats the procedure for issuing a Wyoming Endangered Persons Advisory?

Answer 21

Notify PIO
 Contact should be made with “A Child is Missing” at 1-888-875-2246 providing them with information. They will begin initiating phone calls on behalf of the requesting law enforcement
agency
 NCIC entry – Make an NCIC missing person entry using the Endangered Missing “EME”, or appropriate
NCIC missing person category
 Contact the Wyoming Highway Patrol at 777-4321
 Establish a phone number for citizens to call with information and ensure that call takers are
prepared to handle phone calls
 Notify local FBI office