Missing Person Cases
See something, Say something.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department relies on its collaboration with communities and neighborhoods to assist police in locating a missing person.
Step 1: Reporting a Case
If someone you know goes missing, report a missing person case as soon as possible. Call 911, there is no need to wait 24 hours.
When reporting a case, it’s extremely important to provide as much information as possible about the missing person, including where the person was last seen, places the person frequents and any friends or relatives the person may have contacted. Provide a photo and include a full description of the missing person, including if they have any distinguishing marks such as scars or tattoos. Police also will need to know the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
Step 2: How the PSLPD Responds
Once the Port St. Lucie Police Department receives a call about a missing person, the response will depend on the circumstances of each case. People who are elderly, a child 13 years of age or younger, people suffering from a mental or physical condition or possible victims of a crime are considered “special categories.” Police consider these people particularly vulnerable and will take appropriate action.
A Missing Endangered Person means:
- A missing child; A person under the age of 18 years of age
- A missing adult younger than 26 years of age; or
- A missing adult 26 years of age or older who is suspected by a law enforcement agency of being endangered or the victim of criminal activity.
- A missing adult who meets the criteria for activation of the Silver Alert Plan of the Department of Law Enforcement. A Silver Alert is a public notification system used to broadcast information about missing persons, especially senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities, to aid in their safe recovery.
Silver Alert Criteria:
- The person must be 60 years and older; or,
- The person must be 18-59 and law enforcement has determined the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and that the use of dynamic message signs may be the only possible way to rescue the missing person.
- Must have an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties (e.g. Alzheimer's disease or dementia) that has been verified by law enforcement.
Amber Alerts are not issued for every missing child. An Amber Alert is activated, in accordance with Florida Department of Law Enforcement, when the following five (5) criteria is met:
- The child is under the age of 18;
- Law enforcement has a well-founded belief, based on an active investigation, that a kidnapping has occurred;
- Law enforcement has a well-founded belief, based on an active investigation, that the child is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury;
- There is a detailed description of the child and/or the abductor/vehicle that can be broadcast to the public;
- The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends an activation.
Step 3: Conducting the Search
When an adult or child has been reported missing to police, he or she is entered into a nationwide database; this will assist other law enforcement agencies in locating the missing person.
Police can also turn to media publications or their own social media platforms to ask for help. PSLPD uses social media to post updates on missing person cases.
Other agencies can also help. The National Autism Association, for example, recently released a toolkit on how to search for children with autism. The report makes specific recommendations for both parents and first responders.
How can you help the investigation?
If you hear or know the whereabouts of a missing person, contact your local police department.
Since being a missing person is not a crime, police are given a very limited role while conducting these types of investigations. As a general rule, all adults have a right to be left alone. However, in cases where “foul-play” exists, police can investigate just like any other criminal act. Also, in cases where the missing person is “endangered” due to medical problems, or life-threatening situations, police will take appropriate investigative measures.
Step 4: Locate & Recovery
Police will keep searching for a missing person until they locate them. Once the missing person is found by police, the Department will notify the person who made the report.
Project Lifesaver
Project Lifesaver is a 501 (C) (3) community based, public safety, non-profit organization that provides emergency responders and caregivers with the equipment and training required to protect and, when necessary, quickly locate individuals with cognitive conditions that cause the propensity to wander, such as those with Alzheimer’s or autism. Through the use of state-of-the-art radio frequency technology, innovative search and rescue techniques, and accredited first response training, Project Lifesaver member agencies have, to date, successfully located nearly 3,600 special needs individuals during an episode of elopement; the average recovery times for these rescues are less than 30 minutes, which is 95% less time than standard operations.
Through the partnership with Project Lifesaver, the City of Port St. Lucie has gained more than just a locating program for their community and special needs families, they have created a means of providing peace of mind to these families that their loved ones, knowing they are protected and in the event of an emergency, they will be located and returned home safely.
For more information about Project Lifesaver, please visit www.projectlifesaver.org.