<modsnip>Missing person searches are done because family and community members do not know where a person is. If they knew where the person is, that person would not be considered missing. So, how does one go about such a daunting task? While searching for a missing person may seem overwhelming (looking for a needle in a haystack) searches are done systematically in the absence of a lead. What I mean by systematically is starting with a file mile radius of where the person was last seen and then expanding from there.
Here is an excerpt from a manual published by the Laura Recovery Center and written for family members (not police) who want to organize such searches,
3.1. Phase One - The First Six Hours
Start at the Beginning - The Site the Missing Child was Last Seen
o Verify that the missing child's family has called 911.
o Saturate the neighborhood and a five mile radius of the site last
seen with flyers immediately. Flyers are always appropriate, no
matter what the situation (Section ``on Flyers'').
o Determine the type of situation you are faced with: lost, runaway,
parental conflict, abduction, etc. Respond appropriately.
o Contact friends, teachers, clergy, and law enforcement with the
goal of establishing the child's character, emotional state, and,
if necessary, vouching for the child.
o The family of the missing child should be encouraged to seek
guidance from professional child-search organizations (Section ``on
Missing Child Organizations'').
o Ensure that the missing child's clothing is not disturbed or
removed from the site last seen or the home. It is absolutely
imperative that the scent be preserved for use by canine search
teams (Section ``on Special Search Methods and Tasks'').
o The missing child's room and belongings must be left undisturbed
until the child is recovered or the investigation is concluded.
This includes items that may have the child's fingerprints, and,
for DNA evidence, their hair and tooth brushes, and unwashed
undergarments.
o Preserve the site last seen for future investigation.
o Familiarize key personnel with the site last seen and surrounding
areas.
o Secure maps of the site last seen and immediate area as soon as
possible (Section ``on Mapping'').
o Take photographs of the site last seen and surrounding area. This
will help with briefings later on.
o Fly the area with a helicopter and take aerial photos. This view
will help in organizing the search, and will give you a feel for
the overall dynamics of the area.
o Mobilize the community. Contact the leadership of organizations
such as local Scout groups, PTO, Churches, Chamber of Commerce,
fraternal and professional groups, especially those that the
missing child's family may be associated with. These groups will be
a source for Recovery Center volunteers. All volunteers should be
at least 18 years old.
o Arrange for any specialized search teams and equipment as soon as
possible. These tools are most valuable in the first hours of the
search: dogs, helicopters, horses, etc.
o Commence search operations as soon as possible. Begin at the
beginning - the site last seen. Never assume that any area searched
prior to Recovery Center involvement has been properly and
thoroughly searched.
o Start a concentric search from site last seen. Divide the area
within a radius of 1.5 miles of the site last seen into sectors
that can be covered by 20 person teams in periods of 3-6 hours.
o Simultaneously, search major roads and highways leading to and from
the site last seen, with emphasis on those leading to remote
locations.
o Search all secondary thoroughfares such as waterways, railroad
tracks, jogging paths, etc.
o Consider establishing roadchecks on roads entering and leaving the
area. Coordinate with law enforcement.
o Identify any unusual traffic flow or dynamics in the area of the
site last seen that might yield clues. (Example: construction
sites, high traffic, migrant workers, etc.)
o Identify and document unusual individuals who become involved early
in the search effort. This monitoring will continue throughout the
recovery operation.
o Document all search activities for future reference. Keep all
records, no matter how insignificant they may appear to be, to give
to the Historian (Section ``on Historian'').
http://www.mysearchmanual.org/Manual.txt
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