Matthew Knowles

Com. 345

Dr. Rohler

September 17, 2006

 

 

Orientation Speech for Cue Members

 

 

 

 

          Good Morning, and welcome to orientation for the Cue Center for Missing Persons.  My name is Matthew Knowles, and I am the Cue Center search and rescue team supervisor.  It is great to see so many volunteers in attendance today.  I look forward to working with each and every one of you. The time that each of you will contribute in the future will prove very rewarding. 

          I am sure that all of you must be curious about the expectations of CUE.  While we are a non-profit organization, I want to remind each of you that by signing as a CUE member, you have dedicated yourself to this search effort.  You are expected to be on call at set times during the day.  You are then expected to be on time in response to these calls.  You need to be prepared to do your job upon arrival to duty.  You should also treat each case of equal importance regardless of the person’s age, race, sex and socio-economic background.  Be the first upon arrival to the scene, and the last to leave.  Most importantly, do not let your feelings get too involved.  You should not allow your feelings to override your goals and responsibility as a searcher.  

          Our search efforts take place in coordination with the local police authorities.  We pick up the slack in missing person cases many times when the police are too busy in other places.  When the police have searched for a missing person for a week straight, they usually call off the search soon thereafter.  Most times we work in coordination with authorities during that week, but do not gain complete control of the situation until that week is up. We focus strongly on getting things done in a timely manner.  Every second can be the difference between finding a missing person dead or alive.    

          I want to remind all of you that most of our searches are scheduled, but sometimes they are in immediate response.  In the case of a missing person, the family would first file a police report.  The Cue Center is then notified by the police department or by the family allowing for the search and rescue teams to be deployed. The period of time between us being contacted can be a couple hours or a few days.  However long this period of time may be, we must be prepared to respond.     I now want to address each search team and their responsibilities as a CUE volunteer.  We have three search teams that will be readily available to be deployed.  Whatever your experience level in your area, you should feel comfortable asking any team member a question or for help.

          Searchers with dogs, you should already know that the majority of the time we search jointly with authorities.  You will be the first group to the scene.  It is imperative that you have an article of clothing of the missing person so the dog can identify the persons scent.  If the person is thought to be in a wooded area, your expertise will be most beneficial because of you being able to get around the area.  In situations around town you may not be so fortunate, but you can still get close enough to possibly pick up on the missing person’s scent.  We usually allow you a few hours depending on the size of the area you need to cover.  Then sometimes we may call you in intermittently if we find a clue otherwise.

          Searchers on foot, you will arrive at the same time as the searchers with dogs.  You always allow the searcher’s with dogs to stay ahead of you at least two hundred yards so that your scent does not interfere with the dogs.  You should be aware that you are looking for footprints, strange patterns, articles of clothing, and signs that a missing person may have intentionally left.  If you search on foot you should investigate anything that might be considered unusual.  Your job is especially crucial if there has been a rain in the area resulting in the washing away of all human scent.  Taking your time and being a critical thinker are essential skills as a searcher on foot. 

          Divers for CUE, many times you are called under special circumstances, and not each individual search.  You know that this job is difficult under most conditions.  Your searching environment may be one that is murky, being that many of your searches take place in creeks, rivers and ponds.  All of you are certified, but I want you to realize that this work does not take place under ideal conditions.  You never know what to expect, whether it be a clue or a dead body.  You need to make it a point to make sure your equipment is in working order, and that you are comfortable and prepared under the situation.  

          I realize this information may be overwhelming to some of you, and that some of you may have obligations that will not allow you participate full time.  I do not want to make you feel as if you can’t help out for that reason.  During searches there is a constant demand for food for searchers and dogs, and bottled water. We are also grateful for donations of any amount that will cover some of these expenses.

          Now that each of you know what is expected of you as a CUE center search and rescue team member, I hope to see the result of all of us working together productively.  I realize that many all of you are balancing a career and a family, but I urge each of you to take the time and think of how important the situation would be if it were your missing loved one.  Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for you time and attention.

        

 

               

Matthew Knowles

Cmk2798