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E.P.P. 053 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE NUMBER: EPP – 53 SUBJECT: MISSING PERSONS EFFECTIVE: JUNE 17, 2013 REVISED: NOVEMBER 1, 2023 ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 1 of 6 I. PURPOSE This directive establishes procedures for investigating reports of missing children and adults. II. DISCUSSION Missing persons, especially missing children, are of great concern to the community. The department's prompt and professional response to a report of a missing person can have a positive effect on the outcome of the case. III. POLICY It is the policy of the Longwood Police Department to respond to and investigate all reports of missing persons. Jurisdictional conflicts are to be avoided when a child is reported missing. If a missing child either resides in, or was last seen in this jurisdiction, this agency shall immediately initiate the required reporting process. If a child resides in this jurisdiction, and was last seen in another jurisdiction, but the law enforcement agency covering that jurisdiction chooses not to take a missing child report, this agency shall assume reporting and investigative responsibility. IV. DEFINITIONS Missing Adult - A person eighteen (18) years of age or older who has disappeared and whose location is unknown. Missing child/Missing juvenile - A person under the age of eighteen (18) years who has disappeared or removed themselves from the custody of their parents or guardian. Missing/Endangered – A person of any age, whose whereabouts is unknown, and may be a danger to themselves through a mental or medical disorder, or taken against their will. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 2 of 6 V. PROCEDURES A. Initial Descriptions and Information on Missing Persons 1. The responding officer shall determine when, where, and by whom the missing person was last seen. 2. The officer shall obtain a physical description and any pertinent information about the missing person. The officer is to interview the complainant and any family members to obtain information on the missing person to include: a. Physical description of the missing person, including race, height, weight, hair and eye color, clothing, and other noteworthy features b. Probable destination, e.g., a friend's home c. Amount of money carried d. Type and description of transportation used, (e.g., bicycle, car, etc.) e. Missing person’s friends f. Previous occurrences g. Physical or mental disability h. If a child, the parents' marital status i. If a child is in possession of a mobile device j. Name of school child attends, if applicable k. Obtain a photograph of the missing person if possible. 3. In the case of a missing juvenile, the officer shall organize a search of the premises, including all structures and vehicles on the immediate property. Officers are reminded to conduct a thorough and immediate search of the child’s home and property, even if the child was last seen at another location. Evaluate the contents and appearance of the child’s room/residence. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 3 of 6 4. In the case of a missing juvenile, responding officers shall attempt to determine how far a missing child would normally travel from home alone. This perimeter can, under some circumstances, define the first search zone. If appropriate, additional units should be requested to conduct a search of the area. 5. Verify the child’s custody status. First responders shall ascertain whether a dispute over the child’s custody might have played a role in the incident. Questions regarding whether the reporting party has legal custody, if the non-custodial parent has been contesting custody, or if the missing child expressed a desire to live with the other parent may help an officer gain important insight into the case. 6. If appropriate, existing interagency response protocols, including the “AMBER ALERT” System should be utilized for additional assistance. 7. It is essential for responding officers to know if the child or family has been the subject of previous reports that might have a bearing on this incident. Records shall also be reviewed to learn if any incidents have been reported in the area that might have investigative value in this case. Complaints of, or reports about, incidents such as attempted abductions, prowlers, public lewdness, loitering, and suspicious people shall be of particular interest. Access should also be made to Sex Offender Registries to determine if individuals designated as sex offenders reside, work , or might otherwise be associated with the area. B. Dissemination of Collected Information 1. The investigating officer shall issue a local lookout with the above information on the missing person if it is a person under 18 years of age, an adult and foul play is suspected, or if the adult suffers from a documented physical or mental disability rendering the adult a danger to themselves or others. The local lookout will be issued immediately to all on-duty law enforcement officers having jurisdiction in Seminole County. 2. A supervisor shall be notified by a responding officer if the missing person is a juvenile or determined to be endangered. At that time, a supervisor may request additional manpower to aid in a search if necessary. C. The Entry of Information into F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. 1. A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the communication center, and the missing person information should be entered into ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 4 of 6 F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. as soon as practical but must be entered within 2 hours. They shall enter the missing person and issue a Process Control Number (P.C.N.) and National Information Center Number (N.I.C.). A copy of the teletype shall be attached and filed with the report. 2. An adult shall only be entered in F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. if foul play is suspected or if the adult suffers from a known physical or mental disability rendering the adult a danger to themselves or others. 3. If F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. entry is made, the investigating officer shall issue a local lookout for the missing adult and notify the criminal investigations division of the incident. D. If Foul Play is Suspected 1. The investigating officer shall notify the supervisor. The supervisor shall ensure the F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. entry has been made and a local lookout has been issued. 2. The criminal investigation division will be notified of the incident, and an investigator will respond to the scene. 3. The supervisor will establish a command post and coordinate the initial search efforts. 4. The involved area will be sealed and protected as a potential crime scene. In addition to external crime scenes, the missing person’s home, and particularly his or her bedroom, shall be secured and protected until evidence and identification materials such as hair and fingernails are collected. E. Reports 1. Officers shall complete a missing person report on any missing person under the age of eighteen (18); or on any adult where foul play is suspected; or any adult suffering from a documented physical or mental disability rendering the adult a danger to themselves or others. 2. The missing person report shall consist of an incident report including persons forms, a narrative, any supplemental reports, photographs, and F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. entry teletype. 3. The report shall be taken at the time the complainant reports the missing person and shall be submitted prior to the end of the officer's shift. The report shall contain the Process Control Number (P.C.N.) and a ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 5 of 6 National Information Center Number (N.I.C.) of the N.C.I.C./F.C.I.C. entry. VI. INVESTIGATION A. The criminal investigations division shall be responsible for the follow-up investigation of all missing person’s cases. B. The assigned investigator shall ensure the following has been completed: 1. The missing person has been properly entered into F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. by communication center personnel. 2. Should a missing person not been located within thirty (30) days, an investigator will contact the person’s next of kin and request written consent to contact the missing person’s dentist and obtain their dental records. These records will be included in the N.C.I.C. dental file, per Florida State Statute 937.031. 3. Within ninety (90) days of the report of a missing person an attempt will be made to obtain a DNA sample, for analysis, from family members. The sample will be properly stored until the case is closed. 4. Information shall remain in F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. until the missing person is located. All entries in F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. shall be validated every thirty (30) days while in the data base. 5. The criminal investigations division is responsible for follow-up contact with the reporting persons. Contact is to be made and routinely maintained with the complainant until the missing person is located or all leads have been exhausted. 6. Upon the return of the missing person, it shall be responsibility of the assigned investigator to ensure the missing person is or has been properly removed from F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. VII. REMOVAL OF INFORMATION FROM F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. A. Officers who receive information about a missing person who has been located in the City of Longwood, shall respond and make personal contact with the individual. The officer will verify the person is well and safe. B. The officer who comes in contact with a missing person who has been located shall contact the communications center and give the communications specialist the information for removal from F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. The officer confirming the ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MISSING PERSONS EPP – 53 Page 6 of 6 recovery of the missing person will ensure the F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. removal is made by obtaining the removal teletype. C. The officer shall document the Process Control Number (P.C.N.) as well as the National Information Center Number (N.I.C.) in a missing person recovery report. The F.C.I.C./N.C.I.C. removal teletype will be submitted to the records division. D. Officers may only return recovered missing juveniles to a parent, legal guardian, or if neither can be located, the Seminole County Juvenile Assessment Center.