[pct-l] reporting lost hiker

[awitham at postnetburney.net (Andrew Witham)]

This is good advice.

In fact, in California EVERY (state / local) law enforcement agency MUST
take a missing person report regardless of place last seen, jurisdictional
area etc.  They must not refer the reporting party to another agency.

Additionally, search and rescue teams are rarely self activating - most need
the request to come via law enforcement.  Very occasionally a PSAP (public
safety answering point / 911 call center) will transfer a caller directly to
search & rescue - but this is rare.  Usually activation will be via a law
enforcement supervisor - the most common exception being in coastal areas
and inshore waters where the search and rescue effort will be managed by
Coast Guard.

Generally, a missing person report is quite lengthy - and whilst an initial
report may be made via the 911 system, it will usually be necessary either
to be recontacted by an officer or to meet with an officer.  Often it can be
easier to go to a local police station to make the report.  The advantage of
making the initial report via the 911 system is that is usually guarantees
that the call is documented.  If you call a non-emergency number a 'message'
may be taken but not followed through.

My recommendation after twenty plus years in law enforcement on two
continents is to make an initial short report via 911 and be prepared to
stand by and be contacted either by phone or in person for a full written
report to be taken.

In a wilderness search type situation (rather than a 'missing from home')
you may have valuable information for search and rescue which may only be
elicited by an experienced SAR person.  Unfortunately, the average cop is
not SAR trained.

Remember, for the wilderness hiker, one day you may be providing information
that saves a life - another day you may be relying on someone else to
provide it to save yours!

Drew
Vice President / Technical Director
Searcher Communications Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of JoAnn M.
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 5:56 PM
To: chaiguy@gmail.com
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] reporting lost hiker

[snip] ANY law enforcement agency can/will take a report and then pass it to
the most appropriate agency.

[snip]




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