WWYD: Missing Child, Cops Searching Neighborhood (1 Viewer)

[Foosball God]

I'm a no, mainly because it's an odd request and no one is just going to wander into my house unnoticed.  I'm suspicious by nature though so my immediate thought would be that they think I have something to do with the disappearance because I don't think I've ever heard of that as a normal procedure when looking for a missing kid.

As to what I would think as the parent of the kid that's missing, of course I would be desperate for them to search anywhere and everywhere, but as a parent you'd do anything to find your kid, anything.

 

[Gally]

I'd be fascinated to know what proportion of cops would consent to having their own home searched. 

In this scenario vs in general? 

Again, my answers were based on this specific scenario as I wouldn't be worried about the cops having some nefarious plan to "get me" under these circumstances.  Now just a random general search of my house for no reason would be a different story.  I understand (and agree) that without a reason I deemed valid/worthwhile I wouldn't just let them search around.  

 

[Murph]

In this scenario vs in general? 

Again, my answers were based on this specific scenario as I wouldn't be worried about the cops having some nefarious plan to "get me" under these circumstances.  Now just a random general search of my house for no reason would be a different story.  I understand (and agree) that without a reason I deemed valid/worthwhile I wouldn't just let them search around.  

This scenario. My guess is it would be lower than the general population but that's pure speculation based on nothing.

 

[Gally]

This scenario. My guess is it would be lower than the general population but that's pure speculation based on nothing.

My guess is they would have no issues and would then start helping on the search.  At least any LE people I know would do this.  

 

[Psychopav]

That's irrational thinking that's contrary to law on behalf of law enforcement so that's on them. Your point is akin to blaming a rape victim for dressing to scandalous. 

Dressing to scandalous what?

 

[Chris B.]

I voted No. I have had no negative interactions with LE, and in fact I play basketball with an LAPD officer.
But from what I've seen/read/heard about police searches, no way am I letting cops search my house. All entries into my home are double locked at all times and nobody knows my hiding places better then I do.
If the parents of the missing kid wanted to look around my house for peace of mind, I'd consider it, and only if they removed their shoes first.

 

[Zow]

Dressing to scandalous what?

Fair. 

 

[AAABatteries]

I still fail to see how a firefighter or police officer would be better able to search my house than me.  

I just assumed the reason is one of two things:

1. They don’t trust that people will even look

2. The possibility that you abducted him

I don’t think anybody in here is suggesting that they could search better but maybe I missed it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

How suspicious would be my "uh, yeah - but can you give me a couple minutes?" answer? 

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I’m kind of surprised how many people have their house securely locked at all times 

nice day out my front door will be open and unlocked while I’m in the back yard doing stuff.  I have 3 kids that are constantly coming and going so side door almost always open or unlocked 

half the time I don’t even lock the doors if we are going out for a few hours 

lock up at night but it’s certainly plausible that someone could wander into my house without me knowing during the day

 

[Murph]

I’m kind of surprised how many people have their house securely locked at all time

At my house:

Bulkhead door: always locked unless I'm actively moving stuff into/out of the basement

Patio door: locked unless I'm in the backyard or on the deck

Front door: might leave unlocked during the day. But a three year old is not opening both the storm door, the actual door, and going undetected by the dog.

 

[parasaurolophus]

I just assumed the reason is one of two things:

1. They don’t trust that people will even look

2. The possibility that you abducted him

I don’t think anybody in here is suggesting that they could search better but maybe I missed it.

Homeowner: No officer. You cant come in and search. I will just go do it right now. I know my house so much better and I have locks on all my doors. 

Police: Ok great thanks. Saves us a lot of trouble. But first I gotta ask, you arent hiding the kid are you? 

Homeowner: of course not

Police: ok good. Kidnappers always tell the truth and do really exhaustive searches for us. 

 

[Murph]

Homeowner: No officer. You cant come in and search. I will just go do it right now. I know my house so much better and I have locks on all my doors. 

Police: Ok great thanks. Saves us a lot of trouble. But first I gotta ask, you arent hiding the kid are you? 

Homeowner: of course not

Police: ok good. Kidnappers always tell the truth and do really exhaustive searches for us. 

Has absolutely no bearing here since police were not investigating a kidnapping.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Has absolutely no bearing here since police were not investigating a kidnapping.

Police werent involved in the search at all. The whole thing is a hypothetical. I dont feel like reading your OP again, but pretty sure thats what you said. 

 

[D-Day]

With time to think about it, I would not let the search happen.  However, since I would be caught off guard about the whole situation, I would probably choke and give the go ahead for the search.  One minute into the search I would start thinking I made a stupid decision.

In this situation, although the police or fire department first priority is finding the kid, and possibly overlooking the hookers and blow in my house as a low priority at that time, make no mistake, my privacy rights are an even lower priority to them at all times.

 

[TritOny]

I would let them search for a child in my house. This child's life depends on me at the moment. That's why I would let them come in. But you know, I actually had a similar issue at https://fosterplus.org/, and I was the one who helped look for a child. This kid is 7 years old, and we've successfully found it. And it was a big adventure, but the main thing I want to tell you is that a child can really hide at your place. We found him in the backyard of a man who lived nearby a child's house. And guess what? Of course, the neighbor had no idea about it. But, actually, we found a kid on the second day, so we don't know where he had spent the first day. So, you should be really aware when someone wants to search your house. But if these people are policemen or rescuers, you'd rather don't hesitate and let them do their work.

 

[Hoh]

This is amazing to me.

”Hey there is a missing child and time is of the essence.  Can we come in and take a look to cross another block off the search grid?”

”Nah, #### you.”

Amazing.

 

[AAABatteries]

This is amazing to me.

”Hey there is a missing child and time is of the essence.  Can we come in and take a look to cross another block off the search grid?”

”Nah, #### you.”

Amazing.

This is kind of repeating things but nobody is saying this, IMO.  People are making some valid arguments about things like: 1. trust of the police not destroying property or getting you on something they see.  2. Not wanting a person carrying a firearm in to your house. 3. It's a waste of time - let me search my property and you go look somewhere else.

In the heat of the moment I'm pretty sure I would just let them and help in the search but it's not that crazy the position folks are taking.  I think it's a different scenario if, for example, a person has a 20 acre wooded property and won't let cops on to the property to search.  Most feel pretty strongly that it's not possible for a kid to be in their house without their knowledge and essentially everyone has said they will search for the kid in their house.

 

[Zow]

This is kind of repeating things but nobody is saying this, IMO.  People are making some valid arguments about things like: 1. trust of the police not destroying property or getting you on something they see.  2. Not wanting a person carrying a firearm in to your house. 3. It's a waste of time - let me search my property and you go look somewhere else.

In the heat of the moment I'm pretty sure I would just let them and help in the search but it's not that crazy the position folks are taking.  I think it's a different scenario if, for example, a person has a 20 acre wooded property and won't let cops on to the property to search.  Most feel pretty strongly that it's not possible for a kid to be in their house without their knowledge and essentially everyone has said they will search for the kid in their house.

I'd also add that several (including me) are taking a more middle position that they'd supervise a limited search. 

 

[Flash]

Sadly yes. Its been over 24 hours now. Police still out searching.

But they know you don't have him because you said you don't and they should take your word, right?

Got it

 

[Gally]

This is amazing to me.

”Hey there is a missing child and time is of the essence.  Can we come in and take a look to cross another block off the search grid?”

”Nah, #### you.”

Amazing.

I think it is a window into society with just how untrusting they are with respect to law enforcement.   I was surprised with the response just as you are.  

However as @AAABatteriesmentioned there have been some interesting reasons that made me go hmm but the ones where they were hell no I don't want them pinning anything on me or shooting me in my house just baffled me.  In this particular scenario thinking the cops are going to try and plant something in my house to frame me just seems utterly unrealistic.  I was amazed at how many people were worried about this.