Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
SUBJECT
Missing Adult Investigations
CHIEF OF POLICE
Signature on File
Proudly Policing Since 1826 Nationally Accredited 1986
NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES
47 01/12/1996 11/03/2025 16
AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES
CID10, Case Management
CID12, Follow-up Investigations
CIRC 2.11, Missing Person Response
CIRC 7, Follow Up Investigations
FDLE Criminal Justice Systems Manual
FS Chapter 937, Missing Person Investigations
General Order 12, Radio Communications
General Order 18, Criminal Investigations
General Order 43, Missing Juveniles/Interference with Custody
RCD 9, Validations
ACCREDITATION REFERENCES
CALEA Chapter 41
CFA Chapter 18
KEY WORD INDEX
Annual Review Procedure IX
Investigative Follow-up Procedure VI
Missing Adult Investigations Procedure I
Missing/Endangered Adult Investigations Procedure II
Project Lifesaver Procedure V
Purple Alert Activation Protocols Procedure IV
Recovery and Cancellation Procedures Procedure VII
Silver Alert Activation Protocols Procedure III
Validation Procedures Procedure VIII\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICY
Officers are responsible for adhering to legal mandates and policy protocols in
investigating missing adult incidents.
DEFINITIONS
A Child Is Missing: A non-profit organization that operates a call center 24
hours a day, designed to assist law enforcement in locating missing children,
elderly persons, and disabled individuals. A Child Is Missing utilizes a phone
bank, determined by the zip code of the search area, to disseminate information
on the missing individuals in a timely manner (referred to as a “neighborhood call
alert”). Contact number: 1-888-875-2246; website: www.achildismissing.org.
Adult: A person 18 years of age or older.
Dynamic Message Sign: A programmable traffic control device that displays
messages composed of any combination of letters, symbols, and graphics, used
to provide information to motorists about changing highway conditions, special
events, or safety alerts.
MEPIC: Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse. A Florida
Department of Law Enforcement program that provides liaison among citizens,
private organizations, and law enforcement agencies regarding missing children
information.
MEPIC services are available 24 hours a day and can be accessed at 1-888-356-
4774 (1-888-FL-MISSING).
Missing Adult: a person 18 years of age or older whose temporary or
permanent residence is in, or is believed to be in, this state, whose location has
not been determined, and who has been reported as missing to a law
enforcement agency.
Missing/Endangered Adult: An adult whose location is unknown and is
considered endangered based upon specific criteria (see section II below).
Project Lifesaver Program: A nationwide program that helps locate people with
cognitive disorders who may wander away, such as those with Alzheimer’s,
autism, dementia, or other cognitive disorders. Participants wear a tracking
device that emits a signal.
Purple Alert System: A State of Florida program which broadcasts information
to the public in a timely manner regarding missing adults suffering from a mental
or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related
GENERAL ORDER 47 PAGE 2 of 16
MISSING ADULT INVESTIGATIONS NOVEMBER 3, 2025\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; a brain injury;
other physical, mental or emotional disabilities that are not related to substance
abuse; or a combination of any of these and whose disappearance poses a
credible threat of immediate danger or seriously bodily harm.
Reporting Person: The parent, legal guardian, next of kin, physician, friend, or
neighbor of the missing adult, or other authoritative source with a relationship
with the missing adult.
Silver Alert System: A State of Florida program that broadcasts information to
the public in a timely manner regarding missing/endangered adults who suffer
from irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties (e.g., dementia). The alert
may be for a local/regional area or a statewide broadcast.
PROCEDURES
I. MISSING ADULT INVESTIGATIONS
A. Upon being dispatched or otherwise made aware of a report of a
missing adult, officers are responsible for responding to the call for
service without delay.
B. When investigating a missing adult incident, officers shall meet with the
reporting person and confirm:
1. The missing person is an adult (if not, refer to General Order 43,
Missing Juveniles/Interference with Custody), and
2. The missing adult was last seen in the City of Tallahassee, in order
to establish proper jurisdiction. If not, refer the reporting person to
the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction.
C. When investigating a missing adult incident, officers shall be mindful of
the following:
1. A report may be taken at any time after the reporting person notifies
the Department, regardless of the amount of time the person has
been missing, and
2. The fact that the missing adult lives outside of the city limits of
Tallahassee does not have any bearing on whether or not the
Department will complete a missing adult report or conduct a
follow-up investigation.
GENERAL ORDER 47 PAGE 3 of 16
MISSING ADULT INVESTIGATIONS NOVEMBER 3, 2025\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
D. When investigating a missing adult incident, officers are responsible for
adhering to the applicable protocols of General Order 18 (Criminal
Investigations), and shall:
1. Determine if the absence is a significant deviation from the adult’s
established patterns of behavior that cannot be explained.
2. Assess if the missing person should be considered a
missing/endangered adult (see section II A below), and
3. Obtain pertinent biographical data and other appropriate
information about the missing adult to include, at a minimum:
a. Full name,
b. Date of birth,
c. Use of aliases or other names (including maiden name),
d. Place of birth by city, county, and state,
e. Physical description to include all aspects of appearance
(including scars, marks, tattoos), and clothing worn when last
seen,
f. Mental and physical history/condition (e.g., suicide risk),
g. Current financial situation, to include:
1) Bank name(s),
2) Account number(s),
3) Any recent suspicious banking transactions, and
4) The availability of cash or credit/debit cards,
h. Place(s) of employment and/or university/college attending,
i. Vehicle description(s) to include license plate number(s),
j. Social Security Number, and
GENERAL ORDER 47 PAGE 4 of 16
MISSING ADULT INVESTIGATIONS NOVEMBER 3, 2025\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
k. Names and contact information for family members and friends
who might be contacted by the missing adult or may assist the
Department with any follow-up investigation.
E. In addition to the information described in subsection D above, officers
investigating a missing adult incident should obtain a recent
photograph of the adult.
F. The primary officer is responsible for coordinating with the
Consolidated Dispatch Agency (CDA) to broadcast a radio/teletype
BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for the missing adult.
1. The BOLO should include the missing adult’s name, description,
vehicle description (if applicable), and possible destination (if
known).
2. The circumstances of the incident information should determine the
broadcast area of the teletype BOLO.
G. The primary officer is responsible for ensuring the missing adult’s
identifying information is entered into FCIC/NCIC within two (2) hours
of receipt of the report:
1. The offense report does not have to be complete and approved
prior to FCIC/NCIC entry.
2. An SVU designee will ensure the adult’s identifying information has
been entered into NamUs within 90 days of the agency receiving
the report that the adult is missing.
3. The missing adult’s identifying information may be