GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: GENERAL OPERATIONS
TITLE: MISSING PERSONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF SCOTT BONNER
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MISSING PERSONS
316.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance for missing person investigations.
316.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
At risk - Includes persons who:
(a) Are 13 years of age or younger.
(b) Regardless of age, are believed or determined to be experiencing one or more of the following circumstances:
Out of the zone of safety for their chronological age and developmental stage
Mentally or behaviorally disabled
Drug dependent, including prescribed medication and/or illegal substances, and the dependency is potentially life-threatening
Absent from home for more than 24 hours before being reported to law enforcement as missing
In a life-threatening situation
In the company of others who could endanger their welfare
Absent in a way that is inconsistent with established patterns of behavior and cannot be readily explained. Most children have an established and reasonably predictable routine.
Involved in a situation that would cause a reasonable person to conclude the person should be considered at risk
MISSING PERSON - Any person who is reported missing to law enforcement when that person's location is unknown. This includes a person who is at least 18 years old and whose disappearance is possibly not voluntary (Ala. Code § 26-19-1(6)).
MISSING PERSON NETWORKS - Databases or computer networks that are available to law enforcement and are suitable for obtaining information related to missing person investigations. This includes the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), the Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC), and the Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ACMEC) (Ala. Code § 26-19-1).
316.2 POLICY
The Lincoln Police Department does not consider any report of a missing person to be routine and assumes that the missing person is in need of immediate assistance until an investigation reveals otherwise. Priority shall be given to missing person cases over property-related cases. Members will initiate an investigation into all reports of missing persons, regardless of the length of time the person has been missing.
316.3 REQUIRED FORMS AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE COLLECTION KITS
The Criminal Investigations supervisor shall ensure the following forms and kits are developed and available:
Missing person report form
Missing person investigation checklist that provides investigation guidelines and resources that could be helpful in the early hours of a missing person investigation
Medical records release form
Biological sample collection kits
316.4 ACCEPTANCE OF REPORTS
Any member encountering an individual who wishes to report a missing person or runaway shall render assistance without delay. This can be accomplished by accepting the report in-person and initiating the investigation. Immediate assistance shall be promptly dispatched to a member to take the report.
316.5 INITIAL INVESTIGATION
Officers or other members conducting the initial investigation of a missing person should take the following investigative actions, as applicable:
(a) Respond to a dispatched call as soon as practicable.
(b) Interview the reporting party and any witnesses to determine whether the person qualifies as a missing person and, if so, whether the person may be at risk.
(c) Notify a supervisor immediately if there is evidence that a missing person is either at risk or may qualify for a public alert, or both (see the Public Alerts Policy).
(d) Broadcast a radio alert (e.g., internal broadcast, interagency broadcast) if the person is under 18 years of age or there is evidence that the missing person is at risk and the criteria for an alert is met. The alert should be broadcast as soon as practicable but in no event more than one hour after determining the missing person is under 18 years of age or may be at risk.
(e) Ensure that entries are made into the appropriate missing person networks:
1. Immediately, when the missing person is at risk.
2. In all other cases, as soon as practicable, but not later than two hours from the time of the initial report (34 USC § 41308).
(f) Complete the appropriate report forms accurately and completely and initiate a search as applicable according to the facts.
(g) Collect and/or review:
A photograph and fingerprint card of the missing person, if available.
A voluntarily provided biological sample of the missing person, if available (e.g., toothbrush, hairbrush).
Any documents that may assist in the investigation, such as court orders regarding custody.
Any other evidence that may assist in the investigation, including personal electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, computers).
(h) When circumstances permit and if appropriate, attempt to determine the missing person's location through their telecommunications carrier.
The officer shall make a written or oral request to the wireless telecommunication provider (Ala. Code § 15-5-55(i)).
(a) Any oral request shall be documented as soon as practicable and signed by the requesting officer.
(b) Any written request shall be signed by the requesting officer.
(i) Contact the appropriate agency if the report relates to a missing person report previously made to another agency and that agency is actively investigating the report. When this is not practicable, the information should be documented in an appropriate report for transmission to the appropriate agency. If the information relates to an at-risk missing person, the member should notify a supervisor and proceed with reasonable steps to locate the missing person.
316.6 REPORT PROCEDURES AND ROUTING
Members should complete all missing person reports and forms promptly and advise the appropriate supervisor as soon as a missing person report is ready for review.
316.6.1 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities of the supervisor shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) Reviewing and approving missing person reports upon receipt.
The reports should be promptly sent to the to the Criminal Investigations Division upon supervisor approval.
(b) Ensuring resources are deployed as appropriate.
(c) Initiating a command post as needed.
(d) Ensuring applicable notifications and public alerts are made and documented.
(e) Ensuring that records have been entered into the appropriate missing person networks.
(f) Taking reasonable steps to identify and address any jurisdictional issues to ensure cooperation among agencies.
If the case falls within the jurisdiction of another agency, the supervisor should facilitate transfer of the case to the agency of jurisdiction.
316.7 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS FOLLOW-UP
In addition to completing or continuing any actions listed above, the investigator assigned to a missing person investigation:
(a) Should ensure that the missing person's school is notified within 10 days if the missing person is a juvenile.
The notice shall be in writing and should also include a photograph.
The investigator should meet with school officials as appropriate to stress the importance of including the notice in the child's student file, along with the investigator's contact information, if the school receives a call requesting the transfer of the missing child's files to another school.
(b) Should recontact the reporting party and/or other witnesses within 30 days of the initial report and within 30 days thereafter to keep them informed, as appropriate, and to determine if any additional information has become available.
(c) Should consider contacting other agencies involved in the case to determine if any additional information is available.
(d) Shall verify and update CJIC, ACMEC, NCIC, and any other applicable missing person networks within 30 days of the original entry into the networks and every 30 days thereafter until the missing person is located (34 USC § 41308; Ala.Code § 26-19-1; Ala.Code § 26-19-5).
(e) Should continue to make reasonable efforts to locate the missing person and document these efforts at least every 30 days.
(f) Shall maintain a close liaison with state and local child welfare systems and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) if the missing person is under the age of 21 and shall promptly notify NCMEC when the person is missing from a foster care family home or childcare institution (34 USC § 41308).
(g) Should make appropriate inquiry with the Coroner.
(h) Should obtain and forward medical and dental records, photos, X-rays, and biological samples, as applicable.
(i) Shall attempt to obtain the most recent photograph for persons under 18 years of age if it has not been obtained previously and forward the photograph to ACMEC and enter the photograph into applicable missing person networks (34 USC § 41308; Ala.Code § 26-19-5).
(j) In the case of an at-risk missing person or a person who has been missing for an extended time, should consult with a supervisor regarding seeking federal assistance from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service (28 USC § 566).
316.8 WHEN A MISSING PERSON IS FOUND
When any person reported missing is found, the reporting officer or the assigned investigator shall document the location of the missing person in the appropriate report, notify the relatives and/or reporting party, as appropriate, and other involved agencies, and refer the case for additional investigation if warranted.
316.8.1 UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS
Members investigating a case of an unidentified person who is deceased or a living person who cannot assist in identifying themself should:
(a) Obtain a complete description of the person.
(b) Enter the unidentified person's description into the NCIC Unidentified Person File and the NamUs database.
(c) Use available resources, such as those related to missing persons, to identify the person.
316.9 CASE CLOSURE
The Criminal Investigations supervisor may authorize the closure of a missing person case after considering the following:
(a) Closure is appropriate when the missing person is confirmed returned, or evidence matches an unidentified person or body.
(b) If the missing person is a resident of the City of Lincoln or this department is the lead agency, the case should be kept under active investigation for as long as the person may still be alive. Exhaustion of leads in the investigation should not be a reason for closing a case.
(c) If this department is not the lead agency, the case may be closed if all investigative leads have been exhausted, the lead agency has been notified and entries are made in the applicable missing person networks, as appropriate.
(d) A missing person case should not be closed or reclassified because the person would have reached a certain age or adulthood or because the person is now the subject of a criminal or civil warrant.
316.9.1 NOTIFICATION OF CASE CLOSURE
Once the missing and endangered person is found or the case is closed, the initiating law enforcement agency shall notify ALEA, which shall distribute a media alert (Amber Alert) cancellation (Ala. Code § 26-19A-5).
316.10 TRAINING
Subject to available resources, the Training Coordinator should ensure that members of this department whose duties include missing person investigations and reports receive training that includes:
(a) The initial investigation:
Assessments and interviews
Use of current resources, such as Mobile Audio/Video (MAV)
Confirming missing status and custody status of minors
Evaluating the need for a heightened response
Identifying the zone of safety based on chronological age and developmental stage
(b) Briefing of department members at the scene.
(c) Identifying NCIC Missing Person File categories (e.g., disability, endangered, involuntary, juvenile, catastrophe).
(d) Verifying the accuracy of all descriptive information.
(e) Initiating a neighborhood investigation.
(f) Investigating any relevant recent family dynamics.
(g) Addressing conflicting information.
(h) Key investigative and coordination steps.
(i) Managing a missing person case.
(j) Additional resources and specialized services.
(k) Update procedures for case information and descriptions.
(l) Preserving scenes.
(m) Internet and technology issues (e.g., internet use, cell phone use).
(n) Media relations.
(o) Missing and endangered persons with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia as required by Ala. Code § 26-19A-4.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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