Canfield K-9 Training
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
There is No Time...
By Inv. Bruce Walstad, ret.
When it comes to the immediate investigation of abducted children, there is no time. In child abduction murder
cases, 74% of the time the child is murdered within the first three hours.
To exasperate the situation further, in 60% of the cases, parents search on their own and wait two hours to report
their child missing and 58% of the time they report the child as missing or runaway, not realizing that their child has
been abducted.
Generally speaking, most police agencies throughout the country are completely unprepared to investigate an
abducted child. This is due to the fact child abductions are a rare event and the police lack the experience, expertise
and training to investigate them properly and in a timely manner.
In my travels presenting training seminars across the country on Missing, Runaway and Abducted Children a number
of quite startling issues have come to my attention:
· On average about 90% of the police officers I come in contact do not know the criteria for their state’s Amber
Alert Plan, nor do they actually know how to activate it. About 75% of the officers, do not know where the Amber
Fax Forms are physically located at their agency. Of those 25% who say they know where the forms are, most
respond by indicating they think the forms are located in their communications section. 1% or 2% of the officers
will actually say they have a set of their forms in their possession.
· Only about half of the officers have heard of the NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children).
About 90% have no idea whatsoever of what services are offered and the vast resources offered by NCMEC, with
the exception NCMEC put missing children’s posters in Wal-Mart.
· Child Abduction Response Teams, know as CART Teams is another great unknown among the average police
officer. Again, about 90% of the officers have never heard of them.
· When shown the NCMEC First Responder Card, at best only 15% of the officers have ever seen it. Only half of
those claim to possess one.
· When shown the FBI Child Abduction Plan book, at best 1% or 2% of officers have ever seen it.
· When shown NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and
Program Management book, maybe 20% of officers will indicate they have seen it, with about half of those claiming
they have a copy themselves.
· While discussing the contents of the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation report by
the Attorney General of the State of Washington, less than 1% of officers are aware this report exists.
When a child abduction occurs, there is no time to search for the Amber Alert Fax Forms and then learn how to
actually activate the Amber Alert. There is also no time to learn what NCMEC is and what they can do to assist you in
your investigation. There is no time to find a copy of the NCMEC First Responder Card, the FBI Child Abduction Plan
book, NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program
Management book, the FBI Child Abduction Plan book and the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide
Investigation report.
When it comes to the initial search and canvas of the area where the abduction took place, most police officers do
not know that 80% of the time, the initial contact site between the child and offender is within 1/4 mile of the
victim's last known location. Additionally 46% of the time, the child is murdered within 1/4 mile from the initial
contact site and that 72% of the time, the body is recovered with 200 feet of the murder site. There is no time to
learn this during the first few critical moments of the investigation.
Now is the time law enforcement needs to get prepared, before a child abduction occurs, not during the investigation
as there is no time. Here are the basics:
· Learn how the Amber Alert works, what the criteria is and where the fax form are located.
· Go to the NCMEC website and learn what resources are available to law enforcement.
· Order First Responder Cards for every officer on you department from NCMEC.
· Contact the FBI and obtain a copy of the FBI Child Abduction Plan book.
· Order a copy of NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and
Program Management book,
· Go online and obtain a copy of the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation by the
Attorney General of the State of Washington.
· Find out if CART teams exist in your area. If there is not one, look into forming one.
If law enforcement officers obtain, read and understand all of the basics materials listed above, they will be far
better prepared for a child abduction investigation than the vast majority of other police officers in this country.
Remember, there is no time in Child Abduction Cases…
By Inv. Bruce Walstad, ret.
When it comes to the immediate investigation of abducted children, there is no time. In child abduction murder
cases, 74% of the time the child is murdered within the first three hours.
To exasperate the situation further, in 60% of the cases, parents search on their own and wait two hours to report
their child missing and 58% of the time they report the child as missing or runaway, not realizing that their child has
been abducted.
Generally speaking, most police agencies throughout the country are completely unprepared to investigate an
abducted child. This is due to the fact child abductions are a rare event and the police lack the experience, expertise
and training to investigate them properly and in a timely manner.
In my travels presenting training seminars across the country on Missing, Runaway and Abducted Children a number
of quite startling issues have come to my attention:
· On average about 90% of the police officers I come in contact do not know the criteria for their state’s Amber
Alert Plan, nor do they actually know how to activate it. About 75% of the officers, do not know where the Amber
Fax Forms are physically located at their agency. Of those 25% who say they know where the forms are, most
respond by indicating they think the forms are located in their communications section. 1% or 2% of the officers
will actually say they have a set of their forms in their possession.
· Only about half of the officers have heard of the NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children).
About 90% have no idea whatsoever of what services are offered and the vast resources offered by NCMEC, with
the exception NCMEC put missing children’s posters in Wal-Mart.
· Child Abduction Response Teams, know as CART Teams is another great unknown among the average police
officer. Again, about 90% of the officers have never heard of them.
· When shown the NCMEC First Responder Card, at best only 15% of the officers have ever seen it. Only half of
those claim to possess one.
· When shown the FBI Child Abduction Plan book, at best 1% or 2% of officers have ever seen it.
· When shown NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and
Program Management book, maybe 20% of officers will indicate they have seen it, with about half of those claiming
they have a copy themselves.
· While discussing the contents of the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation report by
the Attorney General of the State of Washington, less than 1% of officers are aware this report exists.
When a child abduction occurs, there is no time to search for the Amber Alert Fax Forms and then learn how to
actually activate the Amber Alert. There is also no time to learn what NCMEC is and what they can do to assist you in
your investigation. There is no time to find a copy of the NCMEC First Responder Card, the FBI Child Abduction Plan
book, NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program
Management book, the FBI Child Abduction Plan book and the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide
Investigation report.
When it comes to the initial search and canvas of the area where the abduction took place, most police officers do
not know that 80% of the time, the initial contact site between the child and offender is within 1/4 mile of the
victim's last known location. Additionally 46% of the time, the child is murdered within 1/4 mile from the initial
contact site and that 72% of the time, the body is recovered with 200 feet of the murder site. There is no time to
learn this during the first few critical moments of the investigation.
Now is the time law enforcement needs to get prepared, before a child abduction occurs, not during the investigation
as there is no time. Here are the basics:
· Learn how the Amber Alert works, what the criteria is and where the fax form are located.
· Go to the NCMEC website and learn what resources are available to law enforcement.
· Order First Responder Cards for every officer on you department from NCMEC.
· Contact the FBI and obtain a copy of the FBI Child Abduction Plan book.
· Order a copy of NCMEC’s Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and
Program Management book,
· Go online and obtain a copy of the Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation by the
Attorney General of the State of Washington.
· Find out if CART teams exist in your area. If there is not one, look into forming one.
If law enforcement officers obtain, read and understand all of the basics materials listed above, they will be far
better prepared for a child abduction investigation than the vast majority of other police officers in this country.
Remember, there is no time in Child Abduction Cases…
| By Inv. Bruce Walstad, ret. The relationship between SAR and the police in some instances is very strained or in some cases completely nonexistent. Most of the relationship issues between SAR and the police have come from prior incidents, personality conflicts and previous dealings with one another. However, in some cases, the police and SAR have an excellent working relationship. So, how come some SAR teams work better with the police than others? The answer is simple, mutual respect for each other, knowing the ground rules and understanding what the other does. SAR volunteers complain about the lack of respect they get from the police. They resent being called in hours or often days later. The police talk about the lack of professionalism (behavior and appearance) SAR volunteers exhibit. They add that SAR volunteers often do things not asked of them, or don’t do things that were asked of them. Many individuals in law enforcement and SAR have very strong feelings on these issues. So, how are these fences mended? Basically, new relationships have to be formed. Both need to reach out to one another. Ground rules need to be made. Expectations should be discussed. SAR teams need to contact the police and sheriff agencies in their area and meet with them. Here are a few suggestions for the meeting: * Keep your meeting brief and to the point. * Inform them of your services and resources (in written form). * Give them your contact information. Law enforcement needs to locate and contact local SAR teams. They need to meet with them and gather the following information: * What each SAR team is capable of (land searches, water searches, cadaver searches, etc.) * What resources (manpower, equipment and K-9’s) each SAR team has. * Contact information. Both need to talk to each other about suggestions for the basic ground rules and expectations: * What types of cases will SAR be used in. * When SAR is called in. * What SAR is expected to do and not to do. * What information will be shared by the police. In addition, very specific guidelines need to be laid out. For example: * The police will contact and request SAR in a timely manner. * SAR volunteers will not touch any possible evidence. * The police will provide SAR as much information on the case as possible and keep them updated with new information. * SAR volunteers will not speak to the media unless given permission. * The police will assign officers to accompany SAR volunteers, if requested. * SAR volunteers will not take photos of any possible crime scenes or possible evidence. * SAR volunteers will not carry weapons. Past experiences need to be put aside. New relationships need to be formed. Mutual respect needs to be exhibited. Law enforcement and police need each other. |
Links and Info: