New efforts to find missing children in Oxford

OXFORD COUNTY — There were 122 cases of missing children reported in the county for 2010.

In most cases, the calls involve panicked parents whose children have taken it upon themselves to disappear.

A set of new initiatives at the Oxford County Regional Communications Center is being put into place to improve the response to those calls.

Director Jim Miclon says that the first few minutes of an incident are critical to ensuring a positive outcome.

In the past, the person who took the call would use their best judgment to try to coordinate the initial response to the call. Now, each person who takes a missing person call in Oxford County is equipped with a set of questions that helps to get the right information, quickly.

"People don't always realize that the response has begun while they're still being asked questions," said Miclon. "Really, as soon as the critical information is in, the call goes out."

In a rural area like Oxford County, says Miclon, the nearest officer is often 15 or 30 minutes from the point of origin of the call.

"Oxford County is 2,200 square miles," said Miclon. "A lot can be done before that person arrives."

By implementing the standardized questioning methods, Miclon says that the response is better-organized and more efficient.

"By the time the respondent gets there, we're able to give them much more information," he said. "It saves a lot of time."

Miclon was inspired to implement changes in the county's missing children protocols after attending a national conference on the subject in late February.

At the conference, which was attended by law enforcement members from all over the country, Miclon says he was pleasantly surprised to learn how Maine stacks up against more populous states.

"Not only is Oxford County, but Maine is better-prepared, better-educated than even some of the largest states that have tremendous resources," said Miclon.

Miclon is also working to establish an emergency response team that will specialize in missing children cases.

The team would consist of five or six members who would represent different facets of emergency services, such as fire departments, law enforcement, and EMS.

In missing child cases, the team would offer support to the agency that holds jurisdiction.

It's a model that Miclon says works for other, larger agencies.

"My 122 last year could be one month for some agencies," he said. In speaking to officers from those areas, said Miclon, he learned the the model could be effective, particularly in cases in which the child might be in danger.

"It expedited on-scene direction," he said. "We're planning for something I hope never happens."

Miclon says that it's very unusual for missing children to stay missing for long. Of the 122 cases of missing children reported in 2010, every single one was resolved within 72 hours.

Most involve domestic troubles, rather than abductions or cases of children wandering off.

"Often, there's an unpleasant situation in a home, the child says 'I'm out of here,' and winds up in friend Johnny's barn. That's the vast majority of them," said Miclon.

In these cases, parents are often reluctant to place a call to the police, but Miclon says that the safety of their child should come first.

"People are hesitant to call," said Miclon. "We get a lot of delayed calls because of embarrassment. But the reality is, getting that call in here will save a lot more embarrassment down the road."

Miclon says that, generally speaking, officers involved in a missing child case aren't interested in prying into private affairs.

"We're not here to judge. We're here to help with the right resources," he said.

Miclon says that members of the public have many misconceptions about cases involving missing children.

For example, many people think that a 24-hour waiting period must elapse before the law will get involved with a missing child case. Not so, says Miclon.

"We take every call very seriously, and we respond right away," said Miclon.

Missing children cases also now apply to anyone under the age of 21, said Miclon, a fact that many parents don't realize when they can't find their 18-year-old child.

Miclon says that this change in the definition of a missing child case has led to an increase in the number of cases in the county. In 2008, there were 81 missing child cases, and in 2009, there were 98.

Another misconception, says Miclon, exists among the teens who have decided to leave their parents.

"It's not a crime to run away," said Miclon. "Kids think they're in trouble and try to avoid or lie to police officers who track them down. They may be in trouble with their father or mother, but as far as law enforcement goes, not necessarily."

Miclon recommends that parents whose children are missing contact law enforcement officers immediately.