Police give tips ahead of Missing in Arizona Day
Oct 10, 2017, 4:44 AM
(Public Domain Photo)
PHOENIX — While law enforcement agencies ready for Missing In Arizona Day, a Phoenix police officer gave advice on how to tell if someone is really missing.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis said people should check the social media accounts of someone they may suspect is missing.
“Have you taken a look at their social media accounts to see if they’re been active in other places? Is it just that you haven’t spoken to them and you’ve exhausted all the numbers you have?”
He also advised people to think back to the recent past and if there was some sort of argument. Just because someone is cooling off does not mean they are missing.
“If you can’t reason your way through why the contact stopped, it may be time to start a conversation with a police officer,” he said.
Lewis said young children and vulnerable adults, including the elderly, must be reported missing immediately.
The more information some has when reporting someone missing, the better.
“Fingerprint records, biological information, dental records — it may be painful, but it really helps,” Lewis said.
Missing In Arizona Day will be at the ASU West campus Oct. 21. People can either report or update missing persons cases, give DNA samples and meet with support groups.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.