Managing Land Search Operations December 20, 2012

What is a search? 1. methodical attempt to find something 2. hunt

Types of Searches Containment Hasty Grid Choke Point Track Trap Bastard

Who is in charge? 1. If there are suspicious circumstances-LE 2. If no suspicious circumstances-FD 3. Most cases-both share command

Can an agency be held liable? Was there a duty to act? In the process, was the victim injured? Did you act in good faith? Were you acting for the victim? Were the victim’s best interests always the goal? Did you do all you could reasonably do? And document it?

Successful Search Fundamentals Search is an emergency Search is tied usually to an LE investigation Search for clues and the missing subject Concentrate on factors important to success Confine the search area and gather good info Apply appropriate resources in a definite order Use a thorough grid search as a last resort

Resources Human-trained or untrained Physical- porta-jons, food, etc Helicopter 0,60,80% Aircraft Horses Dogs

Steps to Take after Notification Chief officer goes to scene for assessment Department gathers at FD and prepares Emergency not necessarily lights and sirens-make sure you are adequately prepared

What do we need to know? Name and location of reporting party Name of missing person(s) Missing from where? What was the intended activity?

What do we really need to know? Names and phone numbers of missing person(s) Age(s) Number of missing Missing how long Activity Clothing Equipment

What do we really need to know? Physical description Medical/mental history Experience/ability Point last seen of last known position Terrain Weather Has this person been lost before? If so, where and outcome

Now what do we know? Is there a real problem? How serious? What are we going to do? Determine if we need more resources? Determine a course of action?

Search Urgency Number of subjects(3 less than 1) Age(very young or old more urgent) Time( usually reliable more urgent than unreliable) Physical condition (unfit more than fit) Experience( inexperienced more urgent)

Initial Planning Point Base point from which a search begins May be the Last Known Position (LNP) if missing from home May be somewhere else (example: Subject left home to go walk the Greenway)

Search Steps Secure the area and confine the subject Secure a scent article Shut off vehicles near LKP Hasty search if possible Utilize other resources Grid search depending on circumstances

Profiles-Children 96% chance of survivability 57% used paths, trails or followed a drainage area 65% found within 1 mile radius 56% go downward May be instructed to not talk to strangers Determine places on interest

Profiles-Alzheimer's Usually found on a road, in a drainage, or caught in wooded area Lack the ability to turn around Oriented to the past-may return to a former or favorite location 35% found by non-searchers 47% found in creeks, drainage or dense cover 89% found within 1 mile of IPP, usually within 0.5 miles Fatality rate-22%

Profiles-Autistics May not understand what they see or hear Usually found within 1.5 miles of IPP 93% may not respond to their name Tend to not penetrate thick brush/briars. 30% found in open woods 23% found in structures

Profiles-Mentally Challenged 97% may not respond to their spoken name May avoid searchers 21% found in structures 21% found in drainages

Profiles-Others(Hikers,etc) 50% followed a trail 90% found within 5 miles 33% found within ½ mile 75% easily detected 66% go downward May attempt to return to familiar ground which further disorients them May leave trails when they think they know the “right” direction

Segmentation Use man-made, natural, or improvised boundaries when selecting segments A reasonable area is an area that can be covered in 4-6 hours 10-12 searchers with a 100’ grid can search 160 acres in 4 hours A dog team can search 160 acres in 2-6 hours

Thorough vs. Non-Thorough Search Use thorough when abundant resources are available, when searching dangerous terrain, when searching for small objects, or in mixed residential and buildings Use non-thorough when a large are is being searched, when time is a factor, and when additional resources have been requested but not arrived yet

Use the bike wheel model Hub is the starting point and center of activity Spokes are linear functions-search roads, trails, ridges, creeks, power lines, etc. Reflectors-check likely spots and points of interest Rim-Maximum theoretical distance traveled-containment Spoke gaps-often not searched the first operational period-searched when more resources are available.

Types of searches Passive-Make the subject come to you-Wait, confine, attract. (use sirens, lights, firearms,etc) Active-You find the subject-Commit resources in the correct areas

Examples of Operational Tactics Use search dogs in high priority areas Open grid with 200 ft spacing Run all trails for tracks and sign plus 100 ft on either side Re-search two areas with different resources Interview all hikers or passers-by in area Fly open drainage areas twice a day

Night Searches May be required if search initiates at night Dangerous for searchers Probabilities of success decreased After an initial operational period activity may be reduced at night. Depends on the circumstances

Urban Area Searches Many techniques don’t work in Urban areas, such as using search dogs. May have many more areas to search in a smaller area, such as dumpsters, culverts, etc. Search area guided almost entirely from information-you cannot search the entire city. People don’t normally get “lost” in the city; they are more apt to be “missing persons”

Water Search No turnout gear near the water Usually found close to LKP Drags work better than divers Dogs work well when available

Questions?