Now that I have completed my bachelor degree in Criminal Studies and I’ve worked four years as a beat cop, I have decided to apply for a detective position in Missing Persons. To help others considering a similar career, I have included some information to facilitate this process.

Police Detective Job Description

Detectives are promoted from the officer rank after a probationary period on the force. Some officers work a beat for some period of time before being promoted to detective, while others remain uniformed officers for the duration of their career.

Aside from interrogating criminals and suspects, detectives must cultivate networks of informants and collect and preserve evidence. Some cases are open for years, while others remain cold and are never broken. Detectives must have tenacity and be detail-oriented, willing to persist in the investigation of a crime for as long as they’re assigned. Shift work and paid overtime are the norm. The work can be stressful, and on-the-job injuries and illness are common – but when you break a tough case, it can define your career.

Meeting the Requirements to Serve as a Detective in Criminal Investigations

A law enforcement career in criminal investigations involves a deep understanding of the criminal process and the legalities surrounding it. Detectives (also referred to as police detectives or criminal investigators) are law enforcement professionals who have gained expertise in everything from forensic science to arrest procedures through formal education and training and a significant amount of on-the-job experience.

Becoming a Detective with the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department

To become a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C., interested candidates must first become police officers with the Department. This requires applicants to be at least 21 years old and able to pass a written test, physical ability test, and medical examination, which includes a polygraph examination.In addition, candidates must demonstrate at least ONE of the following:

• Successful completion at least 60 semester college credits in any major
• Service in the U.S. Armed Forces for at least three years in an active-duty capacity
• Service for at least 5 years as a full-time police officer with a municipality or state agency

Candidates without a military or law enforcement background who complete at least 60 semester hour college credits (equivalent to 2 years of full-time study) often study a field related to the profession, such as:

• Criminal justice
• Sociology
• Criminology
• Public administration
• Justice administration
• Forensic psychology

All police officers appointed to the Metropolitan Police Department must agree to serve with the Department for at least two years upon completion of the Department’s training program.To become a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department and hold the designation of Detective II, officers must have completed their initial two years of service and successfully completed a training and evaluation phase, during which time they are considered investigators.Detectives may hold the designation of Detective I if they have completed 7 years of service, 5 of which were as a Detective II.

There are other qualifications that are less measurable than education, experience and age. Detectives should enjoy working with the public and possess honesty, sound judgment, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. Certain crimes, such as domestic violence, can disqualify a candidate. Most applicants must also meet with a psychiatrist or psychologist, as well as undergo lie detector and drug testing.

Investigative Divisions within the Metropolitan Police Department

As of 2012, the Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department had about 3,800 sworn officers, making it one of the largest police forces in the country. The Metropolitan Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving Washington D.C.Although it serves as a local police department, it operates under Federal authority; just a few of its federal duties include protecting the President and members of Congress and approving all public events, including Presidential motorcades, protests or demonstrations, that take place throughout the District.The Metropolitan Police Department is organized into 6 bureaus, one of which is the Investigative Services Bureau, which is responsible for investigating all violent crimes, narcotics crimes, and property crimes in the District. The Investigative Services Bureau is the organized into a number of divisions, which include:

• Criminal Investigations Division
  • Homicide branch
  • Special Investigations branch
  • Victim Services branch
  • District Investigations Branch

• Youth Investigations Division
  • Internet Crimes Against Children branch
  • Physical and Sexual Abuse branch
  • Missing Persons branch
  • Absconder branch
  • Juvenile Processing branch
  • Youth Intervention and Prevention branch

• Narcotics and Special Investigations Division
  • Major Case branch
  • Gun Recovery branch
  • Support branch

• Crime Scene Investigations Division
  • Evidence and Documents Operations branch
  • Crime Scene Response Teams
  • Vehicle and Specialized Processing branch
  • Training and Crime Scene Search Liaison
  • Firearms and Toolmark Examination branch

Education Requirements

Although not all police departments require their detectives to possess a college degree, the shift toward a greater emphasis being placed on qualifying candidates through college education does appear to be taking place. This is apparent in the fact that many police departments now require some post-secondary credits in relevant fields from candidates for investigative positions. And even those that do not require a formal college education are following the trend by encouraging their police officers and detectives to pursue a degree. In some cases, law enforcement agencies have even been offering educational pay incentives to those that earn college credits, and also allow the substitution of college courses for some of the experience requirements needed for promotions.The move towards a greater emphasis being placed on college degrees is no surprise given that investigative bureaus/divisions at the state and local level are seeking candidates with the most comprehensive backgrounds and an understanding of the technology and science used in the criminal investigative process.For example, a typical criminal justice degree includes coursework in a number of very relevant areas, such as criminology, the legal foundation of criminal justice, and the fundamental concepts of social science research, including the interpretation and study of crime, law, and justice.

Background Requirements

Criminal investigators are held to very high standards. Those interested in becoming police officers, and then detectives, must have an appreciation of the strict requirements of today’s police departments.Specifically, candidates should understand that police departments do not generally accept candidates with felony convictions, misdemeanor domestic violence convictions, or a history of illicit drug manufacturing, selling, or using. Further, candidates must be able to clearly demonstrate strong values and morals. This means a past history of theft, embezzlement, cheating, or fraud is not tolerated among police departments.Candidates will be expected to be able to back up the information they provide through a polygraph examination, background investigation, and even a credit investigation.

Employment Requirements

Individuals who meet a department’s minimum requirements are typically required to complete an employment process that includes both a written examination (often a civil service examination) and a physical abilities test, both of which serve as a gauge for whether the candidate can successfully complete the arduous training process and probationary period.Written examinations are generally used to assess grammar, spelling, writing, comprehension, and problem-solving skills, among others. Physical abilities tests are designed to assess a candidate’s strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.

Training Requirements

To become a detective, individuals must first become a police officer, which requires the completion of academy and field training. Academy training includes academic study, field work, and physical training. It is typical for recruits to take a number of written, physical, and situational tests throughout the academy training process, all of which must be passed to continue on with the training program.The academic curriculum is an important component of the training process, as it provides new recruits with a foundation in police science and criminal justice. As such, it is common for recruits to study the following topics during academy training:

• Search and seizure
• Patrol theory and methods
• Criminal justice system
• Criminal law
• Rules and evidence
• Laws and protocols of arrest
• Firearms
• Principles of law enforcement
• Control methods

Upon the successful completion of academy training, most police officers will be assigned to patrol duty, under the supervision of a training officer. This field training period is also called a probationary period, and new recruits are not recognized as full-time members of the department until the successful completion of their probationary period.

Experience Requirements

Criminal investigator careers can be said to start when a person begins working as a police officer, as this experience is required before a promotion to detective can take place. Each police department has its own set of requirements regarding how long a police officer must work in patrol before becoming eligible to become a detective and work in criminal investigations, although, for most, this time period is usually between 2 and 5 years.Some departments also require candidates for detective jobs to complete a promotional examination and some require additional training or the completion of college coursework or a college degree.

Other Requirements

Although police departments always require a specific set of tangible qualifications, including education and experience, they may also be looking for candidates who possess specific characteristics or personality traits. Specifically, detective requirements may also include:

• The ability to use both inductive and deductive reasoning
• Self-discipline
• Honesty and trustworthiness
• Resilience
• Dependability
• Open-mindedness
• The ability to think creatively
• Perceptiveness
• Organizational skills
• Time management skills
• Oral and written communication skills

Once promoted to the detective rank, additional training is encouraged at department academies, regional centers or public safety employees at the state level, and federal agency training centers. This training includes self-defense, firearms, use-of-force policies, sensitivity and communications skills, crowd-control techniques, relevant legal developments, and advances in law enforcement equipment.

Working as a Missing Persons Investigator

A missing persons investigation is a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the unknown whereabouts of an individual. Missing persons investigations can be some of the most challenging and multifaceted assignments in the law enforcement field.

Missing persons investigations are rarely limited to just one jurisdiction, so detectives working in missing persons investigations are often found collaborating with any number of other law enforcement agencies and nonprofit groups. For example, in California, the California Department of Justice, through the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, assists law enforcement agencies at every level to isolate the whereabouts of missing persons in the state.

Missing Persons Investigations

Criminal investigators responsible for working in a missing persons unit of a police department or sheriff’s department are responsible for:

• Ensuring that a reported missing person is not the victim of foul play
• Investigating runaway juvenile cases
• Investigating child abduction cases
• Investigating unidentified persons

As such, there are distinct types of missing persons investigations:

• Missing adults
• High-risk missing persons
• Runaways
• Unidentified persons
• Child abductions

Missing Adults – Investigations into missing adults begin in the jurisdiction where the person was last seen. This is to ensure that the search begins in the nearest jurisdiction, which will also handle a criminal investigation if foul play is suspected. In missing adult cases, the police department is responsible for verifying the person’s welfare. An initial missing persons case is typically taken by a patrol officer, which is then passed onto the detective assigned to the case. The detective then gathers critical information, which is used to locate the missing person. This may include:

• A complete physical description of the missing person
• Photographs
• Work or school information
• Financial records
• A list of family, friends and business associates
• Social networking information
• Any substance abuse, criminal, or mental health issues

High-Risk Missing Persons – High-risk missing persons cases involve adults who are at imminent or likely risk of injury or death. This includes the following types of cases:

• Persons of a confirmed abduction or persons of a suspected abduction
• Persons who are missing under known dangerous circumstances
• At-risk persons, such as:
  • Those in need of medical attention or prescription medication
  • Those who do not have a pattern of running away or disappearing
  • Those who are mentally impaired
  • Those who have been subject to past threats or violence

Runaways – Upon receiving information about a juvenile runaway, missing persons detectives enter the juvenile’s information into a national database (National Crime Information Computer), although runaways are not considered missing persons, so active investigations would not likely take place. Parents or guardians are urged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a nonprofit organization that helps locate runaways and missing children.Child Abduction – Although rare, child abductions are given the highest priority, and an Amber Alert is implemented. In such cases, missing persons investigators are employed immediately to coordinate efforts with other law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers.Unidentified Persons – Missing persons investigators are often assigned the task of attempting to close John and Jane Doe cases within their jurisdiction. (There is an estimated 40,000 unidentified human remains in the United States.)

Job Duties of a Missing Persons Investigator

Most police departments follow Best Practices Protocols (uniform standards), established by the State, when handling missing persons cases. The Best Practices Protocols outline specific directives that must be followed when reporting and investigating missing and unidentified adults and children, including abducted, abandoned, runaway, or missing children.The missing persons investigative process typically involves:

• Determining if the person is designated a high-risk missing person or missing child
• Contacting the appropriate state agencies to request assistance and determine whether a cooperative effort is necessary
• Requesting an AMBER Alert Plan, in the case of an abducted child
• Following missing person investigative guidelines and procedures, which include:
  • Interviewing the reporting person
  • Investigating the potential crime scene and interviewing witnesses
  • In the case of a child custody situation, verify custody status and examine court orders regarding current custody matters
  • Identifying the circumstances of the disappearance
  • Determining when, where and with whom the missing person was last seen
  • Interviewing all individuals who last had contact with the missing person
  • Developing a list of known family members, friends, co-workers and associates for interviews
  • Obtaining a detailed description of the missing person
  • Relaying detailed descriptive information to the appropriate dispatch center for broadcast to all appropriate law enforcement agencies
  • Ensuring that the missing person information is entered into all missing persons databases
  • Thoroughly investigating and searching in a logical and systematic manner
  • Canvassing the area for potential witnesses and interviewing as necessary
  • Obtaining items that may contain DNA from the missing person’s belongings (when applicable)
  • Conducting a criminal history check on all principal suspects and participants in the investigation
  • Utilizing media outlets, when necessary

Training for Missing Persons Investigators

Missing persons investigators must have a deep understanding of all aspects of missing persons investigations, including initial reporting and response protocols, evaluating missing persons cases, categorizing missing adults and children, obtaining evidence, and the use of resources, tools, and outside agencies. Therefore, it is quite common for investigators in this area of investigations to undergo extensive training.Specific areas of training for missing persons investigators may include:

• Dependent adult and dementia missing persons
• Suspicious circumstances
• Parent/family abductions
• Runaway juveniles
• Stranger abductions
• Identifying specific search methods based on the special needs of the victim
• Incident Command System operations
• Utilizing canine resources
• Urban searches
• Managing volunteers
• Utilizing air resources

Since my career revolves around missing people and finding them, I thought it would be appropriate that I devote some time not only to the training I went through but to discuss the topic of missing people.

The reasons for people to go missing are many. They can include mental illness (depression, dementia, suicidal ideation), physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, miscommunication, misadventure, domestic violence, and being a victim.

Thanks to a sterling recommendation from my partner, Sergeant Frank Tomlinson, good grades in college, a solid arrest record and my passing the Detective exams I was promoted to Detective on my first try. I know a lot of officers who had to take the test several times before they passed the exam, so I considered myself to be fortunate in passing it on my first go.

Just to clarify things a little. The process for the promotion of an officer to a detective is somewhat different than going from cadet to an officer.

Law Enforcement Officer promotions routinely get fully authorized, approved , finalized and publically announced 2 to 6 months prior to their officially scheduled date they are to permanently take effect, allowing adequate time to order and ready a new badge, if necessary, likewise, new uniform, devices, emblem, patch, etc , cut through all the red tape, file civil service upgraded rank, increased, approved, pay grade, if applicable , change of firearm , issuance of new procedures codebook and guides to the officer so selected. So, to answer your question , normally, his first day on the job in his new capacity, the law enforcement officer would receive his new badge , on the spot, name tag, etc, in a ceremony first thing in the morning between 8 – 10am with Police Brass, Command Staff , police union officials and some fellow officers in attendance; there are exceptions of course, that I can think of, such as , exigent circumstances, that type of thing, national emergency, national disaster or unexpected staff vacancy, etc.

I was again very fortunate in the choice for my first probation mentor. I was assigned the much-decorated Detective Charles Gault. Not only was he highly competent, but he was also highly approachable. Like Sergeant Frank Tomlinson, Detective Gault truly enjoyed taking rookies under his wing. Again, unlike the probation period with the police department, there are far fewer detectives, so there is a good chance he will be my mentor for the whole 12-month period. I know it is too much to hope for, but maybe he will be my full-time partner after the 12 months is over.

The following year went by quite quickly. It was also quite humbling. I found out how little I really knew about police work. It’s also quite surprising how much time you spend on the internet during the initial stages of looking for missing people.

Who ever says lightning doesn’t strike in the same place is quite wrong, because I lucked out and got my wish for a permanent partner. Yes, I in fact did get Detective Gaul to be my permanent partner as a detective. What was even more fortuitous was that he was still actively engaged in my sister Yua’s kidnapping cold case.

He also picked up a second cold case that of Yancy Thuet, mainly because it just felt strange and there were some similarities in the cases, especially the paltry amount of evidence that was left behind at the scene of the crimes. This indicated that they were both done by professionals. It would also be extremely rare for there to be two such highly-skilled kidnapping rings present in one city. This made it quite likely that both cases were related, if in fact, not perpetrated by the same individuals. Neither I nor Detective Gualt believe in coincidences. The fact that there are two unsolved kidnapping or missing persons cases in the Metro Department is a real sore spot for the force considering that they have such a high success rate in closing out cases. In case you are wondering, our success rate is over 95%. The only investigative agency with a comparable success rate is the United States Postal Inspectors.

FBI Special Agent James Pierany, Detective Gault’s best friend who headed the kidnapping division of the FBI also kept a hand in both of these cases. The fact that there were two similar cases that remained unsolved did not set well with him either. They both believed that it was only a matter of time before both of these cases would be broken wide open.

Since my sister’s cold case would become such a large part of my life, I felt that it was appropriate to spend some time discussing what cold cases were.

What are Cold Case Investigations?

Cold cases refer to crimes that have gone unsolved for years and that have no active leads that investigators can pursue. According to a Scripps Howard News Service study of the FBI Uniform Crime Report, nearly 185,000 homicide/manslaughter cases went unsolved during the 28-year period between 1980 and 2008. That’s an average of nearly 6,000 unsolved murder cases every year in the United States—despite advances in everything from online investigative techniques to forensic science.

Clearance rates for homicides vary widely, according to location. For example, in 2008, Chicago managed to solve just 35 percent of its murders, while in San Diego, 94 percent of all murder cases were solved. The national clearance rate has also fallen, from around 90 percent in the 1960s to well below 65 percent in recent years.To combat the problem of unsolved homicides, many of the nation’s larger police departments have implemented cold case units that are staffed with the most highly skilled investigators. Cold case units are now prevalent among state and city police departments. Many state trooper cold case investigative units also provide support to police and sheriff’s departments at the local level.

Cold Case Investigations: The Mission and the Operations

Cold case investigations within a state or local police department are organized with a team of experienced and highly skilled investigators, all of whom work to investigate unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, police-related shootings, and unidentified persons cases. Cold cases are defined as cases that are unsolved after a specific period of time (usually a year), as well as those with no identifiable leads. Detectives may also investigate other types of cases as deemed worthy by department heads.A cold case investigation begins when detectives review a case to determine if new technology or new evidence exists that may help solve the case. Cold cases are generally reviewed every time additional information about the case becomes available.Detectives in cold case investigations utilize the newest technologies and employ community policing partnerships when working cases. For example, recent advancements in DNA technology and other forensic techniques have allowed cold case investigators to reopen latent cases. These police investigators, during the course of their investigation, often spend their time inventorying evidence, seeking information from the investigators who were previously assigned to the case, re-interviewing witnesses or suspects, and working closely with forensic scientists. This systematic review of cold cases allows investigators to assemble and deploy resources and increase their chances of success.Investigators within a cold case unit must establish a number of partnerships and locate new and viable leads, which may be a difficult process. Therefore, the most experienced investigators within a police department usually work cold case investigations.Cold case unit investigators also serve as advocates for victims and bring peace to the loved ones of an individual who was killed or is missing. It is therefore common for detectives to provide families with victim advocates while working the case.

It might interest the reader that most large police departments have an actual cold case division. However, most of the cases that are investigated are homicide ones.

Job Duties of a Cold Case Investigator

Cold case detectives are responsible for a large number of critical duties, including:

• Supervising the collection of physical evidence
• Interviewing witnesses, family members, and suspects
• Evaluating the validity of new evidence (hits), such as new DNA evidence or anonymous tips
• Contacting victims and/or family members with new information
• Following a specific course of action, including obtaining new DNA samples and collecting new evidence
• Building a new case to present to the district attorney
• Utilizing internal/external resources, such as:
  • Medical officer/coroner’s office
  • Internal or external criminalists or other specialists (fingerprint, firearms, forensic)
  • Other detectives within the cold case unit or police department
  • Federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the U.S. Marshals
  • National/state databases, such as the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crimes and DNA databases

Detectives must be able to prioritize their cases and give priority to those in which:

• Witnesses can identify suspects
• Information/evidence can identify suspects
• The initial investigation had witnesses who could not be located or who needed to be re-interviewed
• Preserved evidence can be processed and analyzed through modern technology

Training for Cold Case Investigators

Training prepares investigators to maximize the successful prosecution of cold cases, understand the key elements necessary to operate a cold case homicide squad, and develop strategies for working with the media in high-profile investigations, among others. By providing training in advancements in technology and associated investigative techniques, detectives in cold case units are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully investigate and resolve cold cases.Training for cold case investigators is also often focused on the utilization of the newest technology and resources, including DNA evidence.As such, these courses are designed to:

• Educate investigators on the basics of forensic biology and its implication when solving cold cases
• Provide a practical foundation in DNA evidence identification
• Educate investigators about the best practices related DNA evidence
• Provide a background on statute of limitations

During my four years of working as a missing person’s detective I was involved in many high profile cases. Due to our high success rate in solving our cases we were also consulted along with the FBI on several other cases.

**Note while it is quite common for the FBI to be consulted in missing persons, it is not as common for other police departments to also be consulted. Though it is quite probable that with a success rate in the high 90 %, that it did in fact take place, albeit unofficially. So as Peter’s official chronicler I have included some real life cases.**

2013 Jessica Heeringa, 25 years of age. Heeringa disappeared from her job at a gas station in Norton Shores, Michigan, on April 26, 2013. Although her remains have not been found, in 2016, Jeffrey Willis, a frequent customer of hers, was charged with her kidnapping and murder due to forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony, while his cousin Kevin Bluhm was charged with accessory after he confessed to helping him bury her body. Willis was found guilty of Heeringa’s kidnapping and murder on May 16, 2018. He received a life sentence without parole a month later. On November 27, 2017, Bluhm pleaded no contest to being an accessory for helping Willis dispose of Heeringa’s body and was sentenced on January 9, 2018, to time served, plus five years’ probation and to wear a GPS tether for at least a year. Ssuspected murdere vicitm, the body was never found.

2013 Robert Hoagland, 50 years of age. Hoagland was reportedly last seen mowing the lawn of his home on the morning of July 28, 2013. Earlier that day, he was seen on video buying a road map and fuel for his wife’s car at a local gas station. His disappearance was discovered after he failed to pick up his wife when she returned from a trip abroad the following day. He apparently relocated to Rock Hill, New York, and lived under the name Richard King, until his death December 5, 2022. Police found documents on him with his real name and confirmed his identity with Newtown police. The body was finally found, nine years later.

2013 Alexis Murphy, 17 years of age. Alexis Murphy was a female teenager who went missing on August 3, 2013 in Nelson County, Virginia. The remains of Murphy were found in Lovingston on December 3, 2020. Body has not been found, murder victim, the body was finally over six years later.

2014 Lynn Messer, 52 years of age. Messer was not in bed next to her husband when he awoke on the morning of July 8, 2014, at their farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. All her personal effects, including a walking boot she had been wearing to protect her broken toe, were in the house. In November 2016, remains found near the farm were identified as hers.

2014 Hannah Graham, 18 years of age. Graham was reported missing after last being seen at the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 13, 2014, and her remains were found on October 18, 2014. Murdered.

2015 Ebby Steppach, 18 years of age. Steppach was an American woman who disappeared on October 25, 2015 from Little Rock, Arkansas. Steppach’s body was discovered in a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park on May 14, 2018. Murdered.

2016 Elizabeth Griffith, 29 years of age. A victim of convicted serial killer and rapist Shawn Grate. Griffith was last seen alive in Ashland County, Ohio on August 16, 2016. An autopsy concluded she was strangled to death.