LE takes their cue from the parents in most cases, as well as evidence available, when a teen or almost- teen goes missing (evidence being backpack missing, clothing, fav. items, phones, Ipod, etc) and if parent is worried they may have been lured away, LE must be informed of this and they will look into it. Even in runaway cases, when parent knows child left on thier own, LE will put out a BOLO (be on lookout for) and patrol cars may keep an eye out in the areas where teens gather. But so many kids take off every year, they can't treat each case as an abduction, unfortunately, and they make mistakes, Amber being the most infamous. Her parents did everything right and LE went with their gut, which was wrong.
All I am saying is I think in most cases, LE does what it can. I think younger kids like Kayleah usually do get the attention they deserve from LE and some of the older teens obviously get less. A matter of manpower, it is unfortunate, but true. Many many times more kids runaway than are abducted and even those the runaways are in constant danger...hard choices have to be made by police as to resources and it is often up to parents and family members to mount their own searches for runaway teens.
I also think the size of the town/city plays a role...Greeley is pulling out all the stops...a large city may not have done as much by now.
All my opinions...
