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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROCLAIMING APRIL 20, 2024 AS, "MISSING PERSONS DAY" IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to a diverse population, and each year, individuals from our communities go missing under various circumstances, leaving behind families and loved ones who endure immense emotional distress and uncertainty; and,
WHEREAS, the observance of Missing Persons Day in Cook County serves as a poignant reminder of the countless individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown, highlighting the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address this pressing issue and provide support to affected families including access to counseling, legal assistance, and financial resources; and,
WHEREAS, on May 20, 2017, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office hosted the first Missing Persons Day in Cook County which allowed members of the public to connect with those family members missing more than one month for free by using the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs); and
WHEREAS, in 2022, the National Crime Information Center had 97,127 active missing persons records with 39,504 records accounting for children under the age of 21 and 30,522 records for children under the age of 18; and,
WHEREAS, Cook County recognizes the critical role of government agencies, law enforcement bodies, community organizations, and individuals in enhancing mechanisms for the swift resolution of missing persons cases and in providing compassionate assistance to the families left behind; and,
WHEREAS, by designating a Missing Persons Day Cook County seeks to raise awareness, educate the public, and encourage the promotion of public awareness campaigns to educate community members about the warning signs and other factors contributing to missing persons incidents, and empower individuals to take preventive measures; and,
WHEREAS, Cook County reaffirms our unwavering commitment to finding answers and achieving justice for victims and their families, an...
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