How NYPD Handles Missing Person’s Cases

More than 13000 people were declared missing last year in New York City. Usually, the New York Police Department is the first resource to report any missing person. This blog post will explain how NYPD deals with missing person cases.

Filing a Case

As soon as somebody you know goes missing, it’s very important to report to the NYPD and share all the necessary details. If you suspect that something’s wrong and they might be kidnapped or anything similar might have happened, report the case within the least amount of time possible.

People usually have a misunderstanding that they can’t file a missing person case unless 24 hours have passed. This isn’t true and can often complicate the case. If the family waits too long before reporting the case, police lose valuable time to take necessary measures. According to the NYPD’s website, there’s no defined amount of time that must pass before you can file a missing person case. If you’re unable to contact your loved one, and you suspect that there’s something wrong, then you must straight away reach out to the Police department and let them know.

It’s also important that those who report the case not hesitate to share the relevant information. You must provide as much information as possible without any fear or embarrassment. For instance, if you suspect that someone might be involved, you should also report that. If your loved one had informed you about their plans, where they are going and who they might be meeting with, make sure you share that too with the police. The best thing you can do is provide a clear latest photograph and share any other identity signs that might help.

The police officials believe that the family members should always try to keep a record of each other. They should know who their kids are meeting, where they are going, and what activities they are involved in. If the missing person has been involved in any sort of conflict, the family should not hesitate to give those details too.

What Happens After You File A Case?

Once the family has filed a case and given all the necessary information to the NYPD and any other concerned department, NYPD responds according to the circumstances. If they suspect a kidnapping, their response might be more immediate compared to other cases. If the missing person is a child, elderly, or has any serious medical or physical condition, then the NYPD considers such cases to be of special category and priority. However, normal adults without any special condition may not receive as much attention because they aren’t legally required to return to their homes. In some cases, unless the family can prove that an involuntary disappearance has occurred, NYPD may just file paperwork.

NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse

Often, the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse that operates within the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services also supports the family and NYPD in their search. They strive to investigate the matter and provide all the necessary support required.

Searching A Missing Person

Regardless of the nature of the missing person case, the local precinct in which the family has reported the case will be searched first. If the NYPD fails to find the missing person within the first few weeks, the concerned authorities in the local precinct will handover the case to the Missing Persons Squad.

In special cases, NYPD often devotes as many resources as needed to find the person and resolve the case. Often, NYPD also issues an AMBER Alert or a Missing Vulnerable Adult alert to raise awareness and draw more attention from the public. If need be, NYPD and the family of the victim may also mutually decide to reach out to media publications to raise more awareness. The family can also use their personal social media platforms to seek help. NYPD also has a special account dedicated to missing person cases on Twitter with the name @NYPDMissingPer. They use this page for frequent updates and alerts regarding any missing persons.

Besides NYPD and the family of the missing person, often other organizations and agencies also become involved. For instance, The National Autism Association has also released a toolkit that can help with searching missing autistic children. Many similar actions are taken by other similar groups and organizations.

Can Police Close the Case Until the Missing Person is Found?

According to the law, the NYPD never closes the case until they’ve found the missing person either dead or alive. The stats suggest that the cases that are closed are usually resolved within the first few days of filing the case. However, if the missing person isn’t found, then NYPD continues to strive and dedicated sufficient resources to the case. In some cases, the family may voluntarily request NYPD to close the case if they’ve found out about the missing person.

What if the Missing Person is Found Dead?

If unfortunate circumstances, if a missing person is found dead, then a medical examiner is required to determine the cause of death. In such cases,the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York (OCME) works closely with NYPD to identify the dead individual and because of their death. While NYPD takes care of all the legalities, OCME tries to provide a complete biological profile of the victim. They may use a wide range of methods such as visual recognition, DNA test, medical records, and fingerprints to identify the person. Once it’s confirmed that the missing person has been found dead, NYPD closes the case. However, in case of suspected crimes such as kidnapping or murder, NYPD may investigate the matter further.

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