Artist Chris DeVries Is Trying To Change Police Protocol To Save Lives
November 28th, 2014 - Grand Ralids, MI
Artist Chris DeVries is trying to change Grand Rapids police protocol to save lives.
Kurt Miller,32, had autism but was high-functioning, which means he sometimes behaved normally but sometimes had the mindset of a child. After Kurt's family members didn’t hear from him after a day, they became worried. It wasnt like him to check in with his family so they tried to file a missing persons report, but were told Kurt had to have been missing for 24 hours. They waited and filed a report.
Kurt's sister found out that his coat and wallet were at a friends house while he was missing. She called down to grpd to give them the tip that Kurt's personal items were there so he could not have went far. The answer she got from the Grand Rapids Police is astonishing. She was told nobody was there to help her, and she would have to wait until Monday between the hours of 8-5.
Kurt's family couldn't wait until Monday for help to find a loved one that was missing for almost a week already. Kurt's mother and sister went out again in search for him. They went to the friends house that they got the tip Kurt's personal stuff was at. They went behind the home into the woods to start looking again for Kurt. In short time they found their loved one dead in the snow. Kurt's mother and sister having to be the ones to find him all alone and dead in the snow. The Grand Rapids Police could have been able to find him with a quick search if they could have received the tip.
Now his family is wondering how Kurt passed, and why it felt like police were not more proactive.
Grand Rapids Police Captain Eric Payne could not comment on Miller’s open case, but said GRPD files missing persons’ reports immediately, and follows up on every tip.
“Whenever there’s a tip we will follow up on it, whether it’s a uniform officer or the detective,” said Captain Payne. “Our goal is to locate the person and let the person making the report know that they’re okay.”
The family would like some changes made in the GRPD's protocol for missing persons. Captain Eric Payne said "whenever there’s a tip we will follow up on it" but when the family wants to know. If there is a missing kid, elderly, special needs, or just anyone in that means, tips should be looked into faster and not be told you have to wait until open hours.
Artist Chris Devries grew up with Kurt and can not believe what all has happen. He is trying to make awareness of this fail in the police department and made a spray paint silhouette of Kurt called "Kurt's Law" Chris would like the GRPD to look into the protocol they have now and change it.
He is trying to raise money by selling his print and posting a link to donate money on his website for the family.
The link to his art is: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/kurts-law--help-please-read-description-chris-devries.html
The link to donate is: http://www.gofundme.com/kurtmillerbroihier