Since the search for missing ISU student Jon Lacina began Jan. 30, law enforcement members have not paused in their investigation. They took action immediately after Lacina’s father reported him missing. Shortly after the report was taken, an ISU emergency alert was sent to all students, asking them to contact the ISU Police Department with any information.

This speedy response is not always the case in incidences of missing adults. According to an article from the Minnesota House of Representatives, Brian and Annette Swanson, as well as Dale and Sally Zamlen, said they were shocked by the lack of immediate action taken by police when they reported their sons missing.

While driving early in the morning of May 14, 2008, Brandon Swanson, of Minnesota, got stuck in a ditch. He called his parents for help, but never received it. While his parents were on their way to help, his cell phone connection went dead at 3:10 a.m. No one has heard from Swanson since.

The sometimes-slow response of officials has spurred the development of more detailed missing person laws, like Brandon’s Law in Minnesota. Brandon’s Law mandates Minnesota law enforcement to immediately start investigating when a person is reported missing, no matter the person’s age. This means verifying if the person is actually missing and whether he or she is in a dangerous situation.

Minnesota is one of a few states with a law specifically designed to increase the response of authorities in missing adult cases. Iowa is not included in those few, but the state has many protocols in place for those who go missing.

All 50 states operate an online information clearinghouse for missing persons. This clearinghouse serves as a centralized place to inform the public about missing person cases.

“We post photos, when available, to help with identification,” said Linda Mason of Iowa’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. “A news release is posted weekly, listing missing and located persons since the last release.”

Every time someone reports a person missing to local law enforcement, it is entered into the National Crime Information Center. The NCIC is a national computer system that provides access for law enforcement agencies to share information on missing persons, as well as information on different crimes. Information posted on the NCIC is soon re-posted on Iowa’s MPIC.

“In Iowa, the public can report a missing person to local law enforcement,” said Kevin Winker, assistant director of Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation. “When that information is entered into NCIC, that is covered and sent to whoever is working at the time.”

An average of eight to 10 people are reported missing every day in Iowa, Mason said. To stay updated on new posts, visitors may register for a daily e-mail notification on the Web site.

“Some people are reported missing and found the same day,” Mason said. “So they might not show up in the e-mail notification if found a few hours later.”

Mason said the clearinghouse provides a contact for someone with a lead regarding a certain case. It also gives instructions on the proper way of reporting a tip to authorities.

“Occasionally, I receive tips or leads from the general public. Whether it be a missing adult or child, I pass the leads to the originating agency,” Mason said.

Chapter 694 of Iowa Code requires missing person reports taken by local law enforcement be posted on the clearinghouse for the public to see. While chapter 694 lays out general guidelines of who can be considered a missing person, it does not spell out specific protocol law enforcement should follow when handling such a case.

“Generally speaking, law enforcement in Iowa is good in dealing with these situations. When they learn of a missing person, they take the appropriate steps in locating that missing person,” Kevin Winker said. “There is no requirement in Iowa for local law enforcement to contact the Division of Criminal Investigation, but that doesn’t mean an immediate investigation has not been initiated.”

If local officials feel they need additional guidance in a missing person’s case, the DCI follows specific protocol, Winker said. First, they conduct a conference call formally known as a missing persons search and rescue joint notification process. The call involves a number of experts including the following: Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Patrol communications, local law enforcement, a staff operations officer for homeland security, a search and rescue specialist, a DCI duty officer and generally a county emergency management agency coordinator.

“Other people can be added on this conference call if needed, depending on the nature of the situation they’re dealing with,” Winker said. “The whole point is to quickly assess the nature of the situation and what assistance may be needed at the local level.”

The DCI was contacted in Lacina’s case. A day after the search began, a DCI duty officer was in Ames assisting the search and rescue specialist. Winker said this officer has been trained in the search management function.

While law enforcement officials use several facets of investigation to search for Lacina, spreading the word of his disappearance continues to be very important. The ISU emergency alert system made for a speedy process of notifying students and staff. Those registered for the alerts received phone calls and text messages informing them to contact police with information. Had the same situation taken place in a different town, not near a university, telling the public may have taken substantially longer.

The state of Iowa has an alert system similar to Iowa State’s for missing children, but not adults. When an Amber Alert is issued across the state, those registered to receive text alerts will be immediately notified. A great deal of investigation occurs in missing adult cases, informing the public of such a disappearance may take much longer depending on the town and if it has an alert system in place.

Missing person alert information:

• Three-hundred-thirty-two people are currently listed as missing on the Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse in Iowa.
• The Amber Alert stands for America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response. It is designed to alert the public when a child has been abducted and is in danger.
• The Wireless Amber Alert program works with law enforcement, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and wireless carriers to provide free text alerts when an Amber Alert is issued.
• Some counties and states partner with A Child is Missing Alert program to set up an alert system that can make a thousand calls per minute.
• Some states, like Ohio, have missing adult alerts, similar to an Amber Alert, for senior citizens and mentally impaired persons.
• In alerts like these, actions are taken to contact media outlets statewide, alert truckers and post relevant information on electronic billboards, as well as other procedures. Not all states have a missing adult alert, including Iowa.
• Code Adam is an alert used in businesses, shopping malls and many other establishments. If a child is reported missing in a store, for example, a Code Adam is announced over the loud speaker. It includes the description of the child and what he or she is currently wearing. If child is not found within 10 minutes, the police are called.
• U.S. Senate bill S.1301 — A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act — is being reviewed by a committee right now. The bill requests the Attorney General to give funding through a grant to the A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center.
• A Silver Alert works much like an Amber Alert, only it is used in relation to individuals, particularly the elderly, with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive diseases. Congressman Tom Latham, R-Iowa, worked to promote the Silver Alert program in Washington and tried securing grants for the program.
• The National Center for Missing Adults is the national clearinghouse. It was established as such in October 2000 by Kristen’s Law.