I've done a fair amount of work in my professional life developing standards, processes, and procedures, primarily for various government agencies. It was primarily at the federal level, but I've also done state, county, city level.
Because of this, I know that every government agency has procedures for everything - and I do mean everything lol. I also know that when an agency or department develops their own procedures for something, they have to start with procedures they're required to follow, and procedures they must use as a basis, which usually are based on tried and true methods that work, best practices, etc.
So... with all this in mind, after failing to find anything online for Signal Mountain, Hamilton County, or TN for procedures, I decided to go for the next best thing - what an agency would be likely to use as at least a starting point for their missing person procedures.
I think I found it. I think it's CALEA 41.2.5 and CALEA 41.2.6.
I'm finding lots of agencies that cite it as a reference, and lots of agencies with exactly the same wording.
What I'm not finding - yet! - is the original CALEA Standard that I can be guaranteed hasn't been modified or adapted by an indivual agency.
I'll keep looking.
Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in reading through some of these documents, just Google CALEA 41.2.5 or 41.2.5 missing persons
Here are some examples of the documents you can find:
Phoenix PD:
http://phoenix.gov/police/missin1.html
Peoria AZ PD:
http://www.peoriaaz.gov/uploadedFiles/Peoriaaz/Departments/Police/Administration/4_29.pdf
Boardman Township PD:
http://www.boardmantwp.com/Police/documents/calea policies/158 Missing Person.pdf
In the course of my poking around, I also found this article:
When people go missing; Foul play or running away?
Posted Aug 16, 2010 @ 07:00 AM
Last update Aug 17, 2010 @ 10:44 AM
http://www.cantonrep.com/stark/canton/x2092793739/When-people-go-missing-Foul-play-or-running-away