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Alberta Missing Persons and Unidentified Human Remains Website

On February 12th, 2008 a website was launched that allows public access to missing persons files that date back to the 1970s.

The Alberta RCMP, Edmonton Police Service, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a number of provincial urban police agencies have partnered in assembling a public database of missing persons and unidentified human remains.

The website can be found at www.albertamissingpersons.ca

The missing and murdered women task force, Project KARE, will manage the website with files submitted by individual agencies. Priority will be given to cases where the person has been missing for more than 90 days or where circumstances indicate a need to seek the public's assistance.

Although Project KARE maintains the site, those listed in the database aren't necessarily files under active investigation by the task force. The site calls on Project KARE's investigative resources and technology to bring the published cases to conclusion.

The website launched with 34 cases, with that number expected to grow as files are processed and entered.

RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes acknowledged the role the internet can play in solving cases.

"The fact that we do have a number of outstanding unsolved cases in this jurisdiction really fueled the need to take this to the next step.

"When you think about today's technologies and the amount of people going to the internet, to assist in their own searches for missing loved ones, and they see somebody and they say, 'I think I've seen that face somewhere – that might be a missing person,' " Oakes said, adding police were learning of the tremendous public interest in missing persons cases.

"Given the far-reaching aspects of the world wide web, it has been proven that a resource such as this can be extremely beneficial in helping to solve these cases," Oakes continued.

The popularity of being able to search the database was measured by the Edmonton Sun through an online poll.

The one-day voluntary poll allowed only one response per computer.

(In the days following the launch, high demand placed excessive loads on the site's web server which caused it to be unavailable for periods of time).

The Alberta Missing Persons website is an extension of work first undertaken in 2002 by the High Risk Missing Person Project (HRMPP). That team pulled together efforts from all police jurisdictions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories in identifying and reviewing unsolved homicide and missing person's cases where the lifestyle, profession or circumstances may have resulted in the person becoming the victim of a violent crime.

The Alberta Missing Persons website will also list files forwarded by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Cases involving unidentified human remains will also be made available as authorites believe the public can play a significant role in helping to resolve missing persons' cases.

Agencies currently contributing to the website include Calgary Police, Medicine Hat Police, Lethbridge Regional Police, Camrose Police, Lacombe Police, Taber Police, Blood Tribe Police, Louis Bull Police and the Tsuu T'ina Police Service. All ongoing missing person investigations remain the responsibility of the host police agency.

Project KARE anticipates building further partnerships with neighbouring jurisdictions in an effort to expand the site's coverage to include all of western Canada.

Alberta Missing Persons and Unidentified Human Remains File

Visitors to the site who have information about a particular case can contact the responsible agency listed within each file. Feedback, comments and questions are also welcomed.

Due to the high number of missing persons reported not every person reported missing will appear on the site. Criteria, such as the 90 day time period, is subject to change and review.

7,600 to 8,000 cases are received by Alberta RCMP every year, with Edmonton police recording a similar number. Only 200 or so cases merit substantial police resources in their investigation.

The site also lists links to other missing persons websites based in Canada.

Historically, privacy concerns have held police back from making public the details of missing persons. Addressing the issue, Oakes said authorities were confident in their new venture.

"We have to be careful because of privacy concerns, and in nearly all of the cases we will consult with the families before the information is posted," he said.

Oakes has often told reporters that it is not a crime to be missing, citing an incident that occured when he was patrolling highways. After pulling over a vehicle, Oakes determined the driver was listed as a missing person.

When he informed the driver of his status the man said, "I'm not missing. I'm right here."

Privacy laws work the other way as well. In the incident cited, persons asking about the driver could only be told police made contact with the man but not where or when.

Oakes stated that not every person who disappears is a victim wanting to be found – some just "want to go somewhere and start life anew."

When CTV Edmonton reported the launch of the Alberta Missing Persons and Unidentified Human Remains website, viewers were treated (without explanation) to a screen shot ...

... of the Edmonton Police Service home page.

Challenged with illustrating a story about a website, the Edmonton Sun posed the RCMP spokesman ...

... in a manner not very ergonomically correct or just plain comfortable.

deadmonton 2008 - other police matters - Alberta policing services launch missing persons website