BELLINGHAM — The country’s first Missing Indigenous Person Alert system will by launched by the Washington State Patrol at midnight Friday, July 1, offering what is hoped will be “a very helpful tool in recovery.”
Friday’s launch of the new system, which the State Patrol announced in a news release will be known as MIPA, will add the designation of Missing Indigenous Persons to the Endangered Missing Alerts Systems already in place. Those alerts include AMBER Alerts highlighting missing children, SILVER Alerts for missing seniors and ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON Alerts informing about missing adults.
“This is a significant step for our state and agency,” Washington State Patrol Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit’s Director Carrie Gordon said in the release. “We know that Indigenous people go missing at a significantly higher rate than the general population. WSP currently has two full-time tribal liaisons that work with tribal law enforcement and advocacy groups to coordinate state communications and response to this issue.
“The new MIPA system will be one more tool in rapid response by the state that will hopefully allow us to find and assist Indigenous people who are in danger. Hopefully, like our other alerts, the system will not be needed very often. But when it is needed and used, we feel it can be a very helpful tool in recovery.”
The criteria for activating a MIPA alert, according to the release, include:
- An Indigenous person goes missing due to unexplained, involuntary or suspicious circumstances or is believed to be in danger because of age, health or adverse weather.
- The missing Indigenous person is believed to be unable to safely return without assistance.
- There is enough descriptive information, such as photos, height, weight, age, hair color, distinguishing physical characteristics or clothing, that could reasonably assist with the location and safe recovery of the person.
- The incident has been reported and is being investigated by law enforcement.
Any vehicle information associated with the Indigenous person’s disappearance will allow the Washington State Department of Transportation to use its electronic highway signs, the release states, but the signs will only be used if the vehicle information is known. The Highway Advisory Radio system also will publicize the information.
Once a MIPA is activated, all law enforcement agencies in the state will be notified electronically, the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit will distribute information through email and fax to those who have subscribed, WSDOT will display known vehicle information on the electronic highway signs and cable and local broadcasters will be alerted and provided the information for distribution to their audiences.
If the missing person is 21 years old or younger, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will be notified by the investigating agency.
“We are very appreciative of the leadership, assistance, and support of the state’s legislature on this matter,” State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said in the release. “Their allocation of the funds needed for both the technical and personnel costs associated with expanding our missing person alert systems has made this Missing Indigenous Person Alert system possible. It is the first like it in the United States and we are hopeful it will be a powerful tool in location and recovery efforts.”
MIPA is the country’s first alert system to help identify and locate missing Indigenous women and people. It passed the Washington state Senate on March 3 after the bill to set up the system passed the house unanimously on Jan. 28.
