Starting July 4th, Michigan law enforcement agencies will be required to use a national database to search for missing persons.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, is a national clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases throughout the United States. NamUs was launched in 2007 by the U.S. Justice Department.
But some Michigan law enforcement agencies have been slow to use it.
In April, Gov. Snyder signed a bill in law requiring Michigan law enforcement agencies use the NamUs online database.
“I’m sure there’s going to be some growing pains with it,” says D-Sgt. Sarah Krebs, with the Michigan State Police Missing Persons Unit. “But I think long-term for families of missing people and investigators who want these cases solved, this is going to be a good thing for Michigan.”
Krebs credits the general public’s involvement with the success NamUs has had in solving missing person cases.
