Posted on May 02, 2017
Detective-Inspector Steve Dennis ( that's him dealing with the Press last year) is a career policeman.   He was recently put in charge of  that division of Victoria Police concerned with sustaining its standards after a significant time as leader of the Missing Persons unit.
 
As guest speaker we enjoyed his reminisces of, and appreciated his sincere expressed gratitude for, his GSE experience with Rotary on a exchange visit to South Carolina in 1993.   It was amusing to hear of how he was selected for the place, after taking advice to learn something of the USA to impress the Australian selection panel of Rotarians.   He laughed that his detailed gained knowledge of the US civil war was of limited conversational value in South Carolina where the locals closed off any discussion with a comment about "northern invasion".
 
Steve's more serious take was on the nature of Missing Persons policing. It was very informative.   In any year there are about 10,000 reported cases with as few as near 20 unresolved.   Sadly homicide is involved but limited (only a handful), yet the reasons behind most was still of concern to society. 
 
Mental illness, personal stress  and the need to escape from violent relationships were common drivers behind someone going missing.  He observed that the residual family or friend network of a missing person suffer.   Unlike that of say a confirmed death report there is never closure.    Interestingly the investigating police effort is also more difficult as there is nothing or little physical evidence to focus upon and can mean resolving cases is painstaking.  Steve has high praise for the diligence of the relevant officers.
 
It was noted finally that today with help from the Media (sometimes) and various web based sites, and modern forensic technology the investigating police has more tools to employ than in the past.