Missouri Endangered Person Advisory Rapidly Disseminating Information About Missing and Endangered Persons

Our Mission

The mission of the Endangered Person Advisory Program is to develop and coordinate the efforts of law enforcement and the media in order to increase public participation in safely recovering endangered missing persons by increased communication and effective sharing of resources.

Endangered Person Advisory Criteria

The Endangered Person Advisory is initiated solely by Missouri law enforcement agencies using the following criteria:

1. Do the circumstances fail to meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert?
2. Is the person missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances?
3. Is the person believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or some other factor that may put the person in peril?
4. Is there information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the person?

Criteria information and activation forms regarding both the AMBER Alert and the Endangered Person Advisory plans can be found at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov.

Process of an Endangered Person Advisory Activation

1. If all criteria exist, prepare the "Endangered Person Advisory" by using the Endangered Missing (EME) code on the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES).
2. Email (moalerts@mshp.dps.mo.gov) or fax (573-751-6814) the Endangered Person Advisory (EPA) form with the attachments such as photographs, area maps, etc. to the Missouri State Highway Patrol; Troop F Headquarters. Email is the preferred method to receive the forms.
3. Contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol; Troop F Headquarters at (573) 751-1000 to verify the emailed or faxed forms and attachments have been received.
4. Make sure dispatchers or call takers are prepared to handle phone calls. Consider allocating additional resources from other law enforcement agencies.
5. A Public Information Officer (PIO) should be appointed to handle the media. Once the advisory has been activated, media coverage may be overwhelming, especially for a small department. The PIO should be constantly updated to utilize the media as much as possible and receive the maximum exposure for the case.
6. The Endangered Persons Advisory does not preclude in-house procedures, policies, or practices used by each law enforcement agency.

What Happens After the Advisory Is Activated

• All affected Missouri law enforcement agencies are notified through MIAC email alerts.
• Broadcasters and media are notified by media advisory email.
• The Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Unit will be notified for support and resources.
• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is contacted if the person is under the age of 18.

Canceling the Endangered Person Advisory

Mark the Endangered Person Advisory form with "Cancellation" and provide a brief description of the recovery details in the "Brief Circumstances" box. Email (moalerts@mshp.dps.mo.gov) or fax (573-751-6814) the form to the Missouri State Highway Patrol; Troop F Headquarters. The agency must also call the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop F Headquarters at 573-751-1000 to verify the form was received.

Additional Resources

• Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Unit can contact other states if the advisory needs to be sent outside Missouri.
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information and Education Division can provide a Public Information and Education Officer to help your agency.
• 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, or elderly or disabled person. Call toll-free (888) 875-ACIM (888-875-2246).
• 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 other 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).
• Missouri Information and Analysis Center (MIAC) can assist with information that can help with locating the missing subject. They can also create and disseminate flyers and can notify other states if necessary. MIAC can be reached at (866) 362-6422 or (573) 751-6422.

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