Policy Text
GO 213 Missing & Endangered Persons Investigations Page 1 of 20 Rev. 01/14/23
GENERAL ORDER
213 MISSING & ENDANGERED PERSONS INVESTIGATIONS
REVISION DATE: 01/14/2023
BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
SUNNY ISLES BEACH
POLICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/14/23
PREVIOUS REVISIONS:
RESCINDS: All previously issued directives REFERENCE : 15.12M
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. PURPOSE ....................................................... ............................................................... .... 1
B. SCOPE ......................................................... ............................................................... ....... 1
C. POLICY ........................................................ ............................................................... ...... 2
D. DEFINITIONS ................................................... ............................................................... 2
E. PROCEDURES .................................................... ............................................................. 4
F. RESPONDING MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITIES .......................... .......................... 6
G. SHIFT COMMANDER AND/OR SUPERVI SOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES .......... .... 7
H. RESPONDING INVEST IGATOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES .................... .................... 8
I. RESOURCE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS\ .......................... ...................... 10
J. SUNNY ISLES BEACH DESK OPE RATOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES ............ ........ 10
K. RECOVERY PROCEDURES ........................................... ............................................ 10
L. RUNAWAYS ...................................................... ............................................................. 1 1
M. SILVER ALERT .................................................. ........................................................... 13
N. PURPLE ALERT .................................................. .......................................................... 14
O. BLUE ALERT .................................................... ............................................................. 1 5
P. RESOURCES ..................................................... ............................................................. 1 6
Q. VICTIMS WITH AUTISM OR AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ............ .... 17
R. MISSING ADULT WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE ........................ ...................... 17
S. VULNERABLE ADULT INVESTIGATIONS (ELDERLY ABUSE) ............... ........ 20
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish responsibilities and guidelines for the repor ting and investigation of
missing children, missing and/or endangered persons, and runway s.
B. S C O P E
This directive is applicable to all members of this Department.
MISSING & ENDANGERED P ERSONS INVESTIGATIONS
General Order 213
GO 213 Missing & Endangered Persons Investigations Page 2 of 20 Rev. 01/14/23
C. POLICY
1. It is the policy of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department to prom ptly respond and thoroughly investigate all reports
of missing persons. Additionally, the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department considers every person reported
missing to be “at risk” until significant information to the co ntrary is confirmed. Jurisdictional conflicts are to be
avoided when a person is reported missing.
2. If a missing person either resides in, or was last seen in the City of Sunny Isles Beach, the Sunny Isles Beach
Police Department will immediately initiate the required report ing process. If a missing person legally resides
in the City’s jurisdiction and was last seen in another jurisdi ction, but the law-enfor cement agency covering
that jurisdiction chooses not to take a missing-person report, this Department will assume reporting and
investigative responsibility. It is further the policy of the S unny Isles Beach Police Department that all missing
person investigations are conducted in accordance with Florida State Statute FSS 937.021 regarding Missing
Person Investigations.
D. DEFINITIONS
Amber Alert: A program designed to broadcast critical information of a missi ng /abducted child believed to be in
danger, using the Emergency Alert System, via radio, television , dynamic message signs, and lottery machines .
This system is activated by law enforcement by telephoning the FDLE Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
in Tallahassee. The following five criteria must be met:
o The child must be under 18 years old.
o There must be a clear indication of abduction.
o The investigation must conclude t hat the child’s life is in dan ger.
o There must be a detailed description of the child and/or abduct or/vehicle to broadcast to the public.
o The activation must be recomme nded by the local law enforcement agency or jurisdiction.
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/D): Memory loss and changes in a person’s ability to think
clearly; to recognize persons, landmarks, or other familiar obj ects; and often, causes him or her to act irrationally
under what most persons would consider normal situations. AD/D most commonly afflicts older adults. A small
percentage of cases include early-onset AD/D beginning as early as age 35.
Autism: A pervasive, neurologically based developmental disability of extended duration which causes severe
learning, communication and beha vior disorders with age of onse t during infancy or childhood. Individuals with
autism exhibit impairment in reciprocal social interaction, imp airment in verbal and non-verbal communication and
imaginative ability, and markedly restricted repertoire of acti vates and interests. [FSS 393.063(5)]
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Any of the following disorders as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psyc hiatric Association:
o Autistic Disorder
o Asperger’s Syndrome
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