Bear Clan launches missing persons report initiative

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This article was published 28/07/2022 (1165 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s volunteer community Bear Clan Patrol is launching a new police-supported resource to keep the public up to date on missing persons reports.

The initiative arrives in the form of a Facebook page, titled Bear Clan Patrol — Missing Persons. The web page will function as a public-alert bulletin and provide information on how to place a similar report with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Its goal is to streamline the reporting process and strengthen relationships between communities and police, said Kevin Walker, Bear Clan executive director.

“We are a good liaison between the community and the Winnipeg police,” Walker said during a news event Thursday morning at the patrol office at 584 Selkirk Ave.

“I think by having this missing persons initiative in place, it gives (people) that resource to reach out.”

Angela Klassen, co-ordinator of Bear Clan’s West Broadway chapter, is heading the initiative and will act as the main contact for both the police and community members.

“We have determined that (missing persons) is an important issue and (deserves) having its own dedicated space,” she said. “On a daily basis, I get phone calls (from families). A lot of times, a missing persons report hasn’t been filed yet, so I will walk them through the process.”

Between Feb. 1 and July 1, the Bear Clan posted 96 missing persons bulletins on its Facebook page. The organization has been directly involved in locating 45 of those people, Klassen said.

Once a person submits a report to the police, they can also choose to communicate it to Bear Clan.

Sgt. Andrea Scott of the Winnipeg police missing persons unit attended the news event in support of the initiative.

Winnipeg police and the Bear Clan have worked closely on missing persons investigations in recent years, Scott said, adding the organization has developed a trusting relationship with a variety of local communities.

“They are instrumental to the work that we do every day,” she said.

In a typical year, the missing persons unit logs around 7,000 reports; while most of those reported missing are located, around five a year never return home, Scott said.

“Anytime we can utilize additional resources to help those community members and family members, it’s an important thing.”

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca