Paradigm Shift Needed in Missing Adults Cases

Teista Swain Burwell provides only the latest example of thinking by law enforcement officials that needs a major overhaul. [See Woman Finally Listed as Missing]. Nearly two years after her disappearance, one agency has finally listed her as missing; one investigator has taken her disappearance seriously. If it were a local aberration, we could call for heads to roll at the North Charleston police station.

But it isn't.

Too many well-documented cases exist all over this country showing that when someone reports an adult missing, police policy is to first assume the person wanted to disappear. Authorities then tell worried spouses and other family members that adults have a right to disappear if they want to. Then they do nothing to help family look for the missing loved one.

Imagine if missing children were treated that way!

Too often those missing are female, more than half according to FBI statistics. Too often a body is found years later when someone finally investigates to find out what happened.

We all can understand that the police are overworked and underpaid for the hard and often dangerous jobs that they do, but the way law enforcement treats these cases must change!

Paradigm shift: replace the former way of thinking or organizing with a radically different way of thinking or organizing.