Columbia police collaborate to solve missing person cases
There are 46 cases of missing juveniles in Missouri.
Published Oct. 30, 2009
There are 46 cases of missing juveniles in Missouri, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Web site.
MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said missing person cases don't occur often on campus but when they do, the police ask others for help and do what they can to find the missing person.
"We gather information and give the information to different law enforcements, residents and the public," Weimer said. "We try to find them."
If someone from MU goes missing, patrol officers from MUPD handle the case, Weimer said.
When a Columbia resident goes missing, the cases are handled differently depending on the age of the child and if anyone suspects foul play, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden said.
Haden said patrol officers take the initial report of the incident and then the case is assigned to the investigations bureau. There are specific investigators who are assigned to juvenile cases.
"Every case is different, and it depends upon whether it's an adult or juvenile and if there are any indications of foul play," Haden said. "Absent any indicators of foul play, a missing child will be investigated more promptly than an adult."
The Missouri State Highway Patrol often aids local law enforcement agencies in investigating missing persons cases, Highway Patrol Lt. John Hotz said. The highway patrol uses resources that local law enforcement might not have, such as helicopters and airplanes.
Hotz said the patrol's interaction in cases varies depending on circumstances.
"It depends on the area and law enforcement agency," Hotz said. "Some want to run the investigation themselves while we assist them. Others want us to lead the investigation."
Haden said there are times when CPD might ask for the highway patrol's assistance.
"We would certainly enlist their help if necessary," Haden said. "If we needed help in another jurisdiction or help with a search, for instance."
When a child is missing, the highway patrol can issue an AMBER Alert at the request of the local law enforcement agency. In order for an AMBER alert to be issued, the case has to meet the federal criteria, including a confirmation the child has been abducted, the child is 17 years old or younger, law enforcement believes the child is in danger and there is enough description of the victim, adductor and the suspect's car, Hotz said.
Hotz also said the Highway Patrol has to be careful to not issue AMBER Alerts too frequently.
"The thing we want to be careful of with the AMBER Alert is if we do it too often people might get desensitized to it and not pay attention to it when it's posted," Hotz said.
If the case does not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert, an endangered person advisory can be issued instead, Hotz said. An endangered person can be any age.