Concerned about response of police

Recently, I was contacted by a distraught mother of a special needs son, who related to me that her son went missing from Kofa High School. I told the mother to call the Yuma Police Department, using 911, to report her special needs son missing.

Afterwards, she told me the Yuma police did not respond but referred her to Somerton authorities. I was appalled that no one from the police department thought enough to send someone out to conduct a search for her son, a handicapped individual. Her son could have easily been the victim of foul play. Instead of the police department handling this incident, which originated in their jurisdiction, they blew the mother off by telling her to contact Somerton authorities. This act wasted precious time.

Maybe the YPD should re-evaluate their response protocol to reports of missing persons, especially those individuals who are handicapped and in need of more assistance.

Luckily, the person was located and all turned out well without the help of the Yuma Police Department.

Sharon Schroeder

Yuma