1. (a) The ranking on-duty law enforcement officer of a local law enforcement agency shall be responsible for the determination that a missing person meets the definition of a missing vulnerable adult and that an immediate alert should be issued.
2. (b) Once the ranking on-duty law enforcement officer has made the determination that a missing vulnerable adult alert should be issued, the officer shall use the available information to establish the level of response required and shall contact the department. The local law enforcement agency shall seek any information registered through the Medic Alert + Safe Return program or similar program that is available about the missing vulnerable adult that might aid in their recovery.

3. (c) The initial response shall be a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 based on the information provided about the missing vulnerable person and their possible current location. The tiered framework, shall be as follows:

   1. (1) Tier 1 shall be activated when a missing vulnerable adult has been reported to, and is being investigated by, the local law enforcement agency. The local law enforcement agency will issue a “Be on the Look Out (BOLO)” or “Attempt to Locate (ATL)” to other regional agencies to search the immediate area of the last known location of the missing vulnerable adult. The local law enforcement agency will also enter the missing vulnerable adult into the NCIC system. The local law enforcement agency has the opportunity and discretion to notify the local media of the information, if they wish;
   2. (2) Tier 2 shall be activated when the local law enforcement agency has requested the department to begin an activation of a statewide missing person alert for a missing vulnerable adult, to include reporting the information regarding the missing vulnerable adult to E-911, to the state-wide media outlet distribution list, and the department’s social media platforms; or
   3. (3) Tier 3 means the department has extended its alert and search for a missing vulnerable adult to another state’s jurisdiction due to updated information that the missing vulnerable adult might be outside the state of New Hampshire.

4. (d) The local law enforcement agency shall:

   1. (1) Provide information to the department utilizing the DSSP 461, “Missing Person Intake Form”, (Rev. 01, 2025);
   2. (2) Send the most recent photo of the missing adult to the department;
   3. (3) Identify a specific agency point-of-contact within the local law enforcement agency and provide a telephone number for the public to utilize when providing case information or leads; and
   4. (4) Notify the department of all new or updated information, including whether to escalate the tier level of the alert.
5. (e) The department shall confirm that the activation criteria has been satisfied prior to the information being disseminated to relevant parties.
6. (f) Department personnel shall notify E-911 that a missing person alert might be forthcoming.

7. (g) The missing vulnerable adult alert shall include all appropriate information from the local law enforcement agency that might assist in the safe recovery of the missing vulnerable adult and a statement instructing anyone with information related to the missing vulnerable adult to contact their local law enforcement agency. Alert information shall include, but not be limited to the following information:

   1. (1) Name and contact number of the investigating agency;
   2. (2) Name and age of missing vulnerable adult;
   3. (3) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known location;
   4. (4) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known direction of travel;
   5. (5) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known clothing description;
   6. (6) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known vehicle information, if applicable;
   7. (7) Possible destination information, if applicable; and
   8. (8) Missing vulnerable adult’s medical status.

8. (h) Once the information contained within the alert has been verified, for Tier 2 alerts or Tier 3 alerts, the report information:

   1. (1) Shall be disseminated by the department to the relevant residents, businesses, and designated media outlets in a press-release-type format;
   2. (2) Once received, the designated media outlets shall review the information and make a determination as to whether or not an alert will be broadcast; and
   3. (3) If the decision to air a broadcast is made, it shall be left up to the discretion of the designated media outlet to determine how frequently the broadcast will be made and for how long they will run the alert.
9. (i) The local law enforcement agency that locates a missing vulnerable adult shall notify the department as soon as possible when the missing vulnerable adult is located.

Source. #14199, eff 2-25-25