Missing Person Policy
Purpose:
Establish a policy on the investigation of Missing Persons.
Applicability:
All University employees, full time, part time, temporary, casual labor, students and visitors.
Policy:
It is the policy of Northern Michigan University to actively investigate any report of a missing person(s) as defined below. There is no waiting period before the commencement of an investigation and procedures will be governed by federal, state and local laws.
A missing person is defined as a “person affiliated with the University being a student, faculty or staff member” or any other person last seen on the property of Northern Michigan University and reported as missing - or - a person affiliated with the University but not on campus at the time they were reported missing.
A report of missing person may be made to Public Safety and Police Services.
For students:
1) Tthe housing application for each student living in on-campus housing will include the option to identify a contact person or persons whom NMU shall notify within 24 hours of the determination that a student is missing.
2) The Dean of Students Office will determine when further contact will be initiated. However, if the student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the student's custodial parent or guardian will be notified immediately. In all cases the contact person and will be notified within 24 hours.
3) Regardless of whether a contact person has been identified, local law enforcement will be notified within 24 hours unless local law enforcement agency was the entity that made the determination that the student was missing.
Missing Person Policy, Procedure
Procedure for Missing Students
· The responding officer with gather the pertinent information from the reporting party.
This information will include, but is not limited too, a physical description, clothing, vehicle, time and location last seen, cellular telephone number and circumstances behind incident.
· The responding officer will then notify the NMU Public Safety Investigator or Patrol Sergeant.
The aforementioned contact will then provide the information to the Director or Assistant Director of NMU Public Safety.
· An NMU Public Safety official will contact the Dean of Students.
The Dean of Students and NMU Public Safety official will determine if further contacts need to be made. The Dean of Students will contact the parents of a student if necessary. The Dean of Students will disseminate the information to any additional department heads, Deans, and faculty or staff.
If the missing person is determined to be under the age of 18, a parent or guardian will be contacted immediately.
· An NMU Public Safety official will contact the appropriate Housing and Residence Life staff if necessary.
If the report involves a person residing on campus, Housing and Residence Life staff will work with NMU Public Safety to contact roommates, make room checks and gather additional information.
· The responding officer will check the University data base(s)
The NMU Banner system and NMU Public Safety parking system will be checked for any additional information about the missing subject. This information will be used to assist all officials involved with locating the missing subject.
· The responding officer will contact Central Dispatch.
An area broadcast will be put out to assist in locating the missing subject.
· An NMU Public Safety official will contact the area hospitals and jail.
It is understood each incident can be unique and adjustments to the procedure will have to be made to locate the missing subject in an immediate non-intrusive manner.
The Northern Michigan University Public Safety and Police Services, Dean of Students and Housing and Residence Life departments will work together to effectively implement the procedure for locating a missing person.
| Date Approved: | 1-20-2009 |
| Last Revision: | 1-20-2009 |
| Last Reviewed: | 1-20-2009 |
| Approved By: | President |
| Oversight Unit: | NMU POLICE DEPARTMENT |