Policy Text
A. POLICY
1. It is the policy of the El Portal Police Department to actively investigate only
those cases of missing persons where there is sufficient evidence that harm may
befall the missing person if not immediately located or if foul play is suspected.
The person's age and mental status, as well as any geographic hazards present
must be evaluated in determining the likelihood of harm.
The Department will place missing persons in one of three categories:
a. Child - age 11 or younger.
b. Juvenile - age 12 through 17.
c. Adult - age 18 and over.
2. Under no circumstances will anyone reporting a person missing be told that they
must wait 24 hours to file a police report. There is no waiting period required by
law or policy.
3. In the State of Florida, it is not a crime to be a missing person. Officers
encountering missing persons must be aware of this and pay particular attention to
any information provided by NCIC/FCIC regarding the missing person's status.
4. An FDLE Missing Child Report Form (Form #FDLE/MCIC Form1) must be
completed and signed by the parent/guardian and sent to FDLE.
5. Depending on the circumstances, for instance, an elderly person, thought to have
dementia, who wandered off in the middle of the night, may require a more robust
police response to include ( but not limited to) the following: Area canvass,
assistance from Miami-Dade Police Aviation, assistance from Miami-Dade Police
Dive-Team, etc.
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