Maryland Police Asking For Your Help

The Maryland Center for Missing and Unidentified Persons (MCMUP) is asking for residents to help locate missing persons through the use of social media. According to Maryland State Police, on average, 10,000 to 12,000 children are reported missing in Maryland each year. One in every three of these children is located because someone has seen and recognized their photos. The Maryland Center for Missing and Unidentified Persons, a unit of the Maryland state Police, coordinates an official Facebook page and operates a Twitter feed to raise public awareness and participation in the search for Maryland’s missing persons.

The Facebook page features all missing person cases from a state, county, or municipal police department, or a parent or guardian, who requested the creation of a missing person poster. Additionally, the Facebook page features cold cases, Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts that are issued in Maryland, as well as information about attempted child abductions. Valuable resources and information on child safety can also be found within the page. The Facebook page receives an average of 150,000 views per week.

The Twitter account is used exclusively for child abductions that result in an Amber Alert being activated. In order for Amber Alerts to be most effective, strict criteria have to be met before an alert is issued. When an alert is issued, it usually contains information about a suspect vehicle the abducted child may be in, which gives motorists something to look for. The child’s picture will also be placed on the Facebook page as soon as it becomes available.

To follow the Maryland Center for Missing and Unidentified Persons Facebook page, simply “like” the following: http://www.facebook.com/MD.MCMUP.

The Twitter account can be followed at https://twitter.com/mcmup_msp.

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