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Careers: Police/Obligation to keep parents informed on teenage runaway
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Question
Hi Jack
I'm writing a novel that involves a young teenager reported as a runaway by his stepfather after the death of his mother. There is some question as to the boy's state of mind. The boy's details have been placed on the NCIC Missing Persons File. The story is set in Ohio, in a fictitional city about the size of Dayton.
My question is this: what is the police's obligation to report back to the stepfather on any sightings of the boy? Would they do so immediately, no matter how unconfirmed the report, or do they have some leeway as to what information is useful? What if the detective in charge had some slight, unfounded suspicion about the stepfather's role in the boy's disappearance? Would she still be under an obligation to report all she knows?
Thank you for your time and any help you can give me on this. Louise.
Louise,
Every case is different, every situation is different, and of course every police officer has different ideas on how to work his own case. Thus there are no "yes" or "no" answers to your questions.
If there were some kind of national protocols that every police officer had to follow then I could give you an answer but if there were such protocols then no case would be solved and no police officer would work the cases.
So the answer to your first question would be maybe. Sorry but that is the best I can do because I don't know what the sightings involve, how credible they are, or what the officer's decisions are. Of course the police want to reassure the family but giving false hope by reporting false sightings are not going to help the family.
Who is "she"? The detective? If the step father is the person who reported the teenager missing who is "she" reporting "all she knows" to?
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Answers by Expert:
Jack Toomey
Expertise
U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.
Experience
Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.
Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.
Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.
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