Missing Persons

When someone you know goes missing, the experience can be overwhelming and it’s often difficult to know where to begin or who to turn to for help.

If you are concerned for someone’s immediate safety or well-being, call 9-1-1 right away. For non-urgent situations, you can contact the DRPS non-emergency line at 905-579-1520 to request a wellness check.

In all missing persons investigations, DRPS officers remain committed to finding the individual. A case will not be closed until the person has been located and their identity has been confirmed – either in person by a uniformed officer or through another reliable method deemed acceptable by police.

DOWNLOAD - How to Report a Missing Person: A Guide for Durham Region DOWNLOAD - Preparing to File a Missing Persons Report DOWNLOAD - Victim Services of Durham Region (VSDR) Form

What you can do when someone goes missing

If you believe someone is missing or are concerned for their safety, it’s important to act quickly. Early reporting gives police the best chance to locate the individual and ensure their well-being.

  • Report them missing right away. You do not need to wait 24 hours to contact the police. The sooner a missing person is reported, the sooner an investigation can begin.
  • Call 9-1-1 if there is immediate concern for the person’s safety. If the situation is not urgent, contact the Durham Regional Police non-emergency line at 905-579-1520.
  • You do not need to be a family member to report someone missing. Anyone — including friends, coworkers, neighbours, or support workers — can file a report.
  • A person's age does not determine whether they can be reported missing. Children, adults, and older adults can all be reported missing at any time.

  • Reach out to friends, family, or individuals close to the person to see if anyone has heard from them or knows their whereabouts.
  • Check if anyone has access to a location-sharing app on the person’s phone (e.g., Find My iPhone, AirTags, Life360, or Google Maps location sharing).
  • Gather any relevant information or materials, especially if the person is considered vulnerable due to age, health, or other circumstances.
  • If you have access, review video footage (from a doorbell camera, security system, or local business) near the person’s last known location.
  • Inform police right away if any footage exists so they can collect and preserve it as part of their investigation.

What Happens After You Make A Report

Once you have filed a missing person report:
  1. You will be given an incident number for reference

  2. Police will begin searching the last known location of the individual, including their residence or the place they were last seen.

  3. Follow-up actions will be taken based on the information you provide police

When someone goes missing

The Investigation Process

  • Occurs when police are officially informed when someone is missing.

DRPS has a robust risk assessment process. A police supervisor will review the case to understand the circumstances, assess any risks to the missing person’s safety, and decide on the appropriate resources and response. Possible responses include:

  • Aerial search using drones or helicopters
  • Ground search
  • Search with K9 units

The case will be re-assessed again by CIB investigators and by the Missing Person Coordinator if the missing person has not been located at the time of the report. 

Officers will start by searching the area where the person was last seen. If the person was last seen at home, police will conduct a thorough search of the residence, checking places such as under beds, inside closets, rooms, and the exterior of the premise.

If the initial search is unsuccessful, a supervisor will coordinate a wider search, usually within a 300-meter radius of the last known location. Most missing people are sometimes found within this radius early in the investigation.

Police may release the first name and photo of the missing person if they believe there is a risk to the individual’s safety. However, this does not happen in every case.

Officers follow a structured checklist to guide the investigation. Supervisors monitor the case closely to ensure all leads are pursued. Actions may include:

  • Expanding the search area
  • Requesting and reviewing video footage
  • Obtaining legal authorization to access records
  • Contacting community agencies and using social media
  • Reaching out to people who may have useful information

Officers also strive to respect religious and cultural considerations throughout the process.

Once located, the person’s identity will be confirmed by a uniformed officer, either in person or through other reliable means. After confirmation, Victim Services Durham Region (VSDR) may be notified.

A Crisis Intervention Counsellor (CIC) will try to complete a voluntary return interview and offer support (in cases assigned to VSDR).

The officer in charge will close the case once the individual is safely returned. *The person and their family may be offered connections to resources and supports to help prevent future disappearances.

*Not all missing person cases will be referred to VSDR. Cases will be assessed by the Missing Persons Coordinator and, based on several factors present in the incident, the case may be referred to VSDR. Factors include the nature of the incident and the circumstances involved.

Does Previous History Affect the Investigation?

No. A missing person’s history—whether previous disappearances, criminal record, or legal issues—does not change how the case is handled. Every case is treated with the same care, respect, and urgency.


What if the Missing Person has an Outstanding Warrant?

The case is treated like any other missing person’s report. Sometimes, the individual may not want to be found because of the warrant. If contact is made verbally with the missing person, officers will decide—based on the situation—whether to continue the investigation. This decision is made at the discretion of the police.


Why Are Missing Persons Investigations Overseen by the Homicide Unit?

In Durham, the Missing Persons Coordinator works closely with the homicide unit on missing persons cases. While it might sound alarming to hear that the homicide unit is included, their involvement reflects the seriousness, coordination, and thoroughness applied to these investigations.

Partnering with the homicide unit allows the Missing Persons Coordinator to:

  • Access officers with extensive expertise in urgent and complex investigations
  • Conduct structured and comprehensive investigations similar to major case protocols
  • Utilize national resources critical to missing persons cases, such as the National Center for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR)
  • Ensure consistent and clear communication between police officers and the family members throughout the investigation

Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC)

The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) partnered with Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) to utilize an important tool to locate missing children. For missing children cases, a media release may not always be issued. Instead, some cases are shared quickly through a progressive web application called ‘Rescu’. 

In some cases, ‘Child Search Alerts’ may be issued, serving as stopgap notification, similar to Amber Alerts for high-risk missing youth in the Durham Region. 

MCSC is a national organization that supports families and police by increasing exposure to missing children cases and providing a network of resources.

MCSC Rescu is an easy-to-use application created for MCSC by Esri Canada and is populated with information on missing children cases pulled from databases by technology developed by Microsoft that sends missing child alerts to users.

People can access MCSC rescu on their phones and other devices by visiting rescu.mcsc.ca, where they see continuously updated information from police on missing children in Canada. Active cases are divided by region and tips on specific cases can be submitted with one click on the platform’s case page. Critically, users are also invited to share that case page to their contacts, through networks, including text, email and other social media such as Instagram, Facebook and X.

Rescu users can also register to receive SMS alerts on cases in their area police deem critical that do not meet the specific criteria required to become an AMBER Alert.

Scan the QR code to download the MCSC Rescu app
QR Code
https://rescu.mcsc.ca/
The Durham Regional Police Service may sometimes add missing children (persons under 18 years old) to the MCSC Rescu application. Persons are added based on criteria which will guide investigators whether to add a missing child on the application.

Adding a missing child to the Rescu application may be done prior to issuing a media release; as the circumstances may not warrant a release to the media. Once added to the MCSC Rescue application, the MCSC will release the information on the Rescue application and will push the information, via social media channels, for greater public exposure.

For particularly ‘high-risk’ missing youth, police can also trigger a push notification, called ‘Child Search Alerts’ to all smartphones to receive the Rescu app information. The notification will appear similar to an Amber Alert on your smartphone.

You must register your phone number with the MCSC to ensure you receive these Alerts.

Learn more about the MCSC at www.mcsc.ca and https://rescu.mcsc.ca

Support & Advocacy

When someone close to you goes missing, it can bring emotional hardship—stress, confusion, sadness, and uncertainty are common feelings. During this difficult time, knowing about the support available to you is crucial.

The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has partnered with Victim Services Durham Region (VSDR) to provide immediate crisis support for those affected by missing person incidents. Support is available not only during the investigation but also once the missing person is safely located.

  • Provide emotional support to families and loved ones
  • Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and connect you to community resources
  • Assist with safety planning to reduce the risk of repeat incidents
  • Conduct return interviews with the missing person after their safe return
  • Help you understand and navigate the investigation process
  • Act as a liaison between police services and families to facilitate communication

If you or someone you know needs support during a missing person investigation, Victim Services Durham Region is here to help.

When someone goes missing, it can bring a wide range of emotions, such as:

  • Guilt
  • Shame
  • Caregiver fatigue
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Frustration
  • Detachment

Everyone experiences stress and emotions differently—there is no “right” or “wrong” way to feel in a missing person’s case. What matters most is that support is available to help.

Remember:

  • Each missing person case is treated as unique, regardless of how many times the person has gone missing.
  • Police are here to help—never hesitate to call.

If you need support, please contact Victim Services Durham Region at 905-721-4226 to connect with a crisis intervention counsellor.

If you are in crisis or having overwhelming thoughts that require immediate attention, please call: 
Crisis Intervention Team: 905-576-8711 ext. 4384
Durham Distress Center (24/7): 1-800-452-0688

Special Considerations for Vulnerable People

Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) offers an online registry that helps law enforcement in situations involving vulnerable individuals.

By registering—with a recent photo and key information about routines and special needs—police can coordinate search efforts more effectively if the person is ever missing. This complements other programs like the Alzheimer’s Society or MedicAlert.

DRPS - Vulnerable Person Registry

There is a specialized registry for individuals living with autism. This ensures officers have critical communication and care information ready, improving their response during a crisis or emergency.

DRPS - Autism Registry

If you believe a child (person under 18) may be missing, you can first conduct a quick preliminary search at home. Check places where a child might hide—even potential danger zones like closets, fridges, laundry machines, crawlspaces, and wrapped spaces—and make some noise in case the child is asleep. Ensure you search inside and around the residence/property. After this search, always report the child missing to police to initiate a full investigation.

For seniors, particularly those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, missing persons cases are treated as high priority. Officers consider cognitive and physical vulnerabilities during their investigations. Medical alert systems are often leveraged to assist in locating these individuals more quickly. If the person lives in a long-term care or retirement facility, contact the facility to understand its internal missing persons protocol.

In Durham Region, long-term care homes follow a “code yellow” procedure when a resident is unaccounted for:

  • Staff notify the registered nurse (RN) responsible for the resident’s area.
  • The RN and staff conduct an immediate search.
  • If the search is unsuccessful, the emergency coordinator (EC) and RN escalate the response, which may include reviewing records, checking sign-in logs, viewing security footage, consulting residents or programming staff, and contacting the substitute decision-maker.
  • If the resident remains missing after 30 minutes, staff must notify police and assist with a coordinated external search—providing photos and relevant details.

DRPS - Vulnerable Person Registry

Definitions & Key Information

Understanding the language and roles involved in a missing person’s case can help families and communities navigate the process with greater clarity. Below is a list of key definitions you may come across.

An AMBER Alert is an emergency public broadcast system activated in cases of suspected child abduction. In Ontario, if specific criteria are met, the Durham Regional Police Service may request that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issue an alert.

It is important to note that an AMBER Alert is not issued for all missing children. In 2018, Canada had approximately 42,000 missing children reports — less than 1% resulted in an AMBER Alert.

Criteria for an AMBER Alert:

  • Police confirm that an abduction has occurred
  • The victim is a child or an individual with a proven physical or mental disability
  • There is concern that the victim is in immediate danger of serious physical harm
  • There is sufficient information that, if shared publicly, could help safely locate the victim

As a stopgap for cases that do not meet the Amber Alert criteria, the DRPS entered into a partnership with the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) and may issue 'Child Search Alerts' for missing persons under 18 years old, which meet certain criteria. Please refer to pages 31 & 32 for further information on the MCSC.

Child abduction is defined as removing, luring, concealing, detaining, or harbouring a child with the intent to deny custody or parental rights to the lawful guardian or caregiver.

Investigators assigned to the CIB will investigate missing person occurrences. Each missing person case will be assigned to a lead Detective or Detective Constable within the identified city or township. DRPS has five (5) CIB Divisions:

  • East Division (905-579-1520 ext. 1605)
  • Central East Division (905-579-1520 ext. 1705)
  • Central West Division (905-579-1520 ext. 1805)
  • West Division (905-579-1520 ext. 1905)
  • North Division (905-579-1520 ext. 1505)

A Crisis Intervention Counsellor is a trained professional with VSDR who provides emotional support, information, and guidance to families, individuals, and communities during and after a missing person report. CICs use a trauma-informed and client-centered approach.

Note: CICs are not police officers, and the information shared with them is confidential—except in situations where there is a legal duty to report.

While most conversations with a Crisis Intervention Counsellor are kept confidential, CICs are legally obligated to report certain disclosures.

In Ontario, anyone — including professionals — must report suspected child abuse or neglect to a Children’s Aid Society. If someone is in immediate danger, the police must be contacted.

Under Section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA), all individuals have a legal responsibility to report if they believe a child is or may be in need of protection.

A person is considered missing if both of the following circumstances exist with respect to the person:

1. The person’s whereabouts are unknown and,

i. the person has not been in contact with people who would likely be in contact with the person, or

ii. it is reasonable in the circumstances to fear for the person’s safety because of the circumstances surrounding the person’s absence or because of any other prescribed considerations.

2. A member of a police service is unable to locate the person after making reasonable efforts to do so.

A missing person coordinator is a sworn officer with DRPS responsible for ensuring quality assurance, investigative excellence and risk management for all missing person investigations. The Missing Person Coordinator oversees and case-manages all missing person investigations.

A vulnerable person is someone who, due to age, disability, or other circumstances (whether temporary or permanent):

  • Depends on others for care or support, or
  • Is at greater risk of being harmed, particularly by someone in a position of trust or authority

Populations that may be considered vulnerable include:

  • Individuals with neurodivergence (for example, autism or ADHD)
  • People with developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments
  • Individuals with mental health conditions
  • Children and youth in care
  • Older adults, including those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
  • People who are unsheltered
  • Those experiencing addiction or substance use issues
  • Newcomers, immigrants, or individuals who do not speak English or French

DRPS continues to enhance accessibility efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable support for all individuals. Accessibility supports may include:

  • Language interpretation services, including American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Visual communication tools
  • Voice-enhancing devices at police stations
  • Ongoing accessibility training for officers and staff

If you or someone you know needs accessibility accommodations, please contact Victim Services of Durham Region for assistance.

Telephone: (905) 721-4226
E-mail: victimservices@drps.ca

Resources

Crisis Lines (24/7 Support)

  • Community Crisis Response Service (COPE): 1-855-310-COPE (2673)
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada-wide): 9-8-8
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
  • Distress Centre Durham: 905-430-2522 or 1-800-452-0688
  • Mobile Crisis Services (Adults, Youth, Children): 905-668-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
  • Lakeridge Health Crisis Services: 905-576-8711
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous-specific): 1-855-242-3310

Counselling & Mental Health Services
General / All Ages

  • Durham Community Health Centre 1-877-227-3217
    • 🌐 durhamchc.ca
    • Clinical care, mental health, wellness, and chronic disease support.
  • Cope Mental Health
  • Canadian Mental Health Association (Durham): 905-436-8760
  • Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS): 905-666-0831 or 1-800-742-1890
  • Family Services Durham: 905-666-6240 or 1-866-840-6697
  • Renewal Psychotherapy (CFS Durham) Oshawa: 905-725-3513 | Ajax: 905-428-1984
  • One Stop Talk (Free Online Counselling for Youth & Parents) 1-855-416-8255

Youth & Child Services

  • Frontenac Youth Services (Ages 12–18): 905-723-2802
  • Kinark Child & Youth Services
  • Autism Services: 1-800-283-3377
  • Child & Youth Mental Health / Youth Justice: 1-888-454-6275
  • Durham Youth Walk-In Counselling (Ages 3–19)
  • Durham Region Crisis Response (Under 18): 905-666-0483
  • Resources for Exceptional Children & Youth Durham: 905-427-8862
  • Durham Children’s Aid Society: 905-433-1551

Resources for the Aging Population

  • Seniors Support Program (55+ in Durham Housing): 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
  • Alzheimer Society of Durham Region 1-888-301-1106
  • Region of Durham – Seniors' Safety Advisor: 905-668-7711 ext. 2460
  • Seniors Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477

Find Local Services: 211 Ontario

  • Call or text 2-1-1
    • 🌐 211ontario.ca
    • Search for community resources in your area.

Contact Us

Durham Regional Police Service
605 Rossland Rd. E.,
Box 911, Whitby, ON
L1N 0B8

888-579-1520, press 0

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