Local sheriff’s department shares protocol for missing persons cases

JACKSON, Tenn. — We spoke with representatives from the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department to learn what to do when a person is missing, and the process law enforcement takes to find them.

We spoke to Stephen Sutton, the Public Information Officer with the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department about what happens when someone you know goes missing.

“They conduct an investigation into that missing persons case, they’re entered into NCIC, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is contacted, all the law enforcement agencies, you know, depending on your counties plan, but the law enforcement agencies begin a search, they put out a BOLO, you know, be on the lookout,” said Sutton.

This is how law enforcement will respond, but what can next of kin, caretakers, or parents do to assist them in their efforts?

“Well one of the things that I think that’s paramount is to have a plan and be prepared. You know, we don’t think about it happening to us. We think about it happening to everyone else’s family but we don’t think about it happening to our family,” said Sutton.

For parents or caretakers, Sutton recommends the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s ‘Kidkit ‘or Carekit.

These are printable PDF files on their website that you can fill out with the relevant information to assist law enforcement with their search.

The TBI recommends making periodical updates every six months.

This is a tool Sutton says could be crucial to a missing persons case.

“If you have this information, readily available, they show up, ‘Here’s everything you need, it’s outlined,’ that certainly closes the window. It begins that search for that individual so that they can return to their family or to their loved ones,” said Sutton.

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