On improving the tactics of searching for missing children under circumstances indicating murder

Abstract

The article reveals typical organizational and procedural deficiencies that occur during tactical operations to search for missing children. At the same time, situations where there are grounds to believe that abduction and murder of a child have been committed have been analyzed. The peculiarity of the specified tactical operations is connected with the necessity of interaction of forces and means of various agencies, in particular, the National Police, the National Guard, and the State Emergency Service. Cadets, hunters, foresters, volunteers, local residents and other community representatives are also involved in them.
 Proposals for effective planning and conducting of search activities are given, as the efforts of services and units of different specialization and subordination are combined. Special attention was paid in the study to recommendations for ensuring the effective work of canine experts during large-scale searches for people. The capabilities and specialization of service dogs in search operations are determined.
 It is noted that the progress and results of search operations are accompanied by wide publicity through mass media and social networks. The negative consequences of the premature formation of public resonance around the events and the reasons for the danger of this factor for the process of crime investigation are revealed.
 The focus of the study is on recommendations for avoiding and minimizing flaws during search operations. The presented proposals are based on data from the analysis of the practice of investigating the serial murders committed by Serhiy Tkach and Andriy Chikotylo, the circumstances of the search for Daryna Lukyanenko in the village of Ivanivka, Odesa region in June 2019, and other examples from investigative and operational practice.
 The results of the conducted research may be of interest to persons who directly participate in operations to search for missing people, in particular, to police officers, rescue services, volunteers, dog handlers. Separately formulated recommendations can also be used when teaching the educational course of criminology and special courses in this discipline.