If you become concerned that a family member, friend, or acquaintance is missing or cannot be located through reasonable means, please report your concerns to the Huntsville Police Department at (256) 722-7100.  

It is not necessary to wait twenty-four hours to report someone as "missing".  Special situations and circumstances, such as a potentially serious medical condition, may heighten concerns about a friend or family member who cannot be contacted or located. 

If reasonable and repeated attempts to contact a person have failed, a call to the Huntsville Police Department will initiate a search for that person.  Once you have called, a police officer will be dispatched to your location to begin the search by gathering certain factual information about the person.  After this information is received, it may then be entered into local, state, and national computer databases enabling searches to be made nationwide, if necessary.  

When calling HPD, give an exact description of the person, including hair color, eye color, skin tone, weight, build, scars, tattoos and height. Make sure to give as much information as possible, also including the length and style of hair, body type and what clothing items the person was last known to be wearing. Be sure to give a clear description of shoes, hats and any other accessories, such as glasses, that you remember the person wearing.  Also, give a list of any known medical conditions or any medications that the person may be in need of.  For example, a diabetic may be in need of insulin.

Give the police any photographs that you have of the missing person. The most recent photographs will be the most helpful.

If the person is under the age of 18, the parent of the missing child should ALSO call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Provide the organization with all of the information you have given to Huntsville Police. You should also contact the Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children.