WASHINGTON STATE ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY PLAN January 2013 I. PURPOSE The Washington State Endangered Missing Person Advisory (EMPA) is authorized by RCW 13.60.050. The EMPA is a program of voluntary cooperation among broadcasters; cable systems; local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies; state agencies; and other participants to enhance the ability to recover a missing and endangered person. Some--but not all--of the AMBER Alert notification resources can be used. The AMBER Alert Advisory Committee, as established by the Statewide AMBER Alert Plan, shall be responsible for providing administrative oversight to develop, implement, review, and recommend revisions to all aspects of the Washington Statewide EMPA Plan. Such recommendations are made to the State AMBER Alert Manager. II. ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY CRITERIA The EMPA is initiated by law enforcement agencies using the following criteria: ? The person is missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances; and ? The person is believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, in combination with environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance; and ? There is enough descriptive information that could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person. (Include as much of the following as possible.) ? ? ? For missing person - photo; height; weight; age; hair and eye color; hair length; race; any distinguishing physical characteristics; clothing worn when last seen; vehicle, if any, to include color, make, model, license number, approximate year (older, newer); location last seen, etc.). For possible subjects/suspects - same descriptive information as above. The incident has been reported to and investigated by a law enforcement agency. III. PROCEDURE FOR AGENCIES TO INITIATE AN ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY Investigating agency responsibilities include the following. If all criteria are met, initiate the following actions, as appropriate: ? Prepare an "Endangered Missing Person Advisory" Administrative Message through ACCESS (A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System). Write "Endangered Missing Person Advisory" in the title of the message. 3000-220-007 (R 1/13) 1 WASHINGTON STATE ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY PLAN January 2013 ? Contact the Washington State Patrol Missing Persons Unit (WSP MPU) at (800) 543-5678 to verify it received the advisory via the Washington Crime Information Center (WACIC). ? Enter the information into the WACIC and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) databases using the proper message key: Missing (MNP), Endangered (EME), or Involuntary (EMI). Note: Dental records of a person missing 30 days or longer must be provided to the WSP MPU. ? The investigating agency or their dispatch center must ensure they are prepared to handle a high volume of phone calls. Consider allocating additional resources. ? Obtain a photograph of the missing person and/or suspect as soon as possible and enter it with the missing person record into WACIC and NCIC, then send an e-mail to the WSP MPU using the address MPU@wsp.wa.gov. ? Appoint a Public Information Officer (PIO) to handle the press. Once the advisory has been activated, media coverage may be overwhelming, especially for a small department. The PIO should be constantly updated and encouraged to utilize the media as much as possible and receive the maximum exposure for the case. Activating agencies may contact the Washington State Patrol Government and Media Relations Office to request assistance. ? The investigating law enforcement agency is authorized to use the Portal to initiate, update, and cancel the EMPA as the case warrants. Upon request of the investigating law enforcement agency, the WSP may activate the Portal (send notifications to initiate, update, and cancel the Advisory) on their behalf. Notes: 1. The EMPA does not preclude any in-house procedures, policies, or practices used by a law enforcement agency. 2. An EMPA may be issued on a local, regional, or statewide basis; however, the Portal allows for statewide activation only. Local or regional advisories need to be handled by traditional methods of contacting the media. IV. THE FOLLOWING WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE ADVISORY IS ACTIVATED: ? All Washington law enforcement agencies are notified through the ACCESS Administrative Message. ? The Portal will automatically notify all alerting partners and the public (who are subscribed) of the initial advisory and any subsequent updated advisories. ? In the event the Portal does not function, and only as a manual backup, the investigating agency should notify broadcasters and media of the EMPA via e-mail, fax, or phone. The Washington State Association of Broadcasters has an address list available on their web site for reference. The WSP Government and Media Relations Office also has address (e-mail) groups available for the investigating agency's use. 3000-220-007 (R 1/13) 2 WASHINGTON STATE ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY PLAN January 2013 ? Upon request of the investigating agency, the WSP MPU can provide electronic posters with details of the missing person. ? The WSP will notify all of their Ports of Entry of the EMPA. ? The investigating agency should notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 if the missing person is 21 years or under. V. CANCELING THE ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON ADVISORY ? The investigating agency must cancel the EMPA by sending another Administrative Message through ACCESS, noting the person has been located, etc. ? The investigating agency must also send a cancelation advisory through the Portal. ? The Portal will automatically notify all alerting partners and the public (who are subscribed) of the cancellation. ? In the event the Portal does not function, and only as a manual backup, the investigating agency should notify broadcasters and media of the EMPA cancellation via e-mail, fax, or phone. The Washington State Association of Broadcasters has an address list available on their web site for reference. The WSP Government and Media Relations Office also has address (e-mail) groups available for the investigating agency's use. VI. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ? WSP MPU is available to provide training and/or training materials. ? The WSP Government and Media Relations Office can assist with press releases, training, and broadcaster/media contact information. ? A Child Is Missing will contact residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen by using an automated telephone system. The service is free and can be used for a missing child, elderly, or disabled person. Call the toll-free number (888) 875-ACIM (888875-2246). ? Team Adam provides experienced child abduction investigators, technical assistance, and equipment for free to agencies during investigations involving missing, abducted, or exploited children. Call toll-free (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678). ? Project Alert provides retired federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who volunteer their time and expertise as unpaid consultants during investigations of missing, abducted, or exploited children. All travel arrangements and costs are paid for by NCMEC. Call toll-free (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678). ? Laura Recovery Center will help organize community ground searches. The non-profit organization offers its services for free. Call toll-free (866) 898-5723. 3000-220-007 (R 1/13) 3