True or False: A law enforcement agency must require the appearance of a next of kin before starting a missing person investigation.

The statement is false because law enforcement agencies are not required to wait for the appearance of next of kin before initiating a missing person investigation. When a person is reported missing, authorities can start the investigation based on the available information and circumstances surrounding the case, regardless of whether family members have been located or interviewed.

The priority in such situations is to gather all pertinent details that can aid in locating the missing individual promptly. It’s essential for agencies to act quickly, as the first few hours are often critical in missing persons cases. Therefore, regardless of the relationship to the missing individual or whether next of kin are present, law enforcement can and should begin their investigation as soon as they receive a report.