JORDAN MAXWELL
NEWS REPORTER
Rod Spencer, a police foundations professor and retired Toronto police officer of 30 years, hasn’t forgotten what resources are needed when searching for a missing person after 11 years of experience in homicide and CSI.
“Neighbourhood searches, police dogs, infrared, heat seeking cameras and helicopters – that is just about as much as you can do,” said Spencer.
It’s been more than two months since 17-year-old Mariam Makhniashvili disappeared. She was last seen near her Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue school, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. While police have employed many search tactics, they are still searching for the girl.
Michael Gamble, another police foundations professor and retired Peel investigator of 32 years, said the first 48 hours are critical when looking for a missing person.
“It’s natural for an investigation to start at the centre before radiating out from there,” Gamble said.
About this investigation, Gamble said “police have done a good job of keeping the media informed and involved to keep it fresh in people’s minds.
“A lot of resources and accountability has gone into this investigation and they’ve done a good job in being open-minded because in cases like this, you can get tunnel vision,” he said.
Gamble added being sensitive is key when interviewing people and maintaining a professional distance rather than aggressively pursuing people for information.
There are some people who aren’t enthusiastic to assist police, he said, such as those who feel the door-to-door investigations infringe on their rights.
“People should understand the context of things,” he said. But Gamble said he credits the controversy because it is another way to keep the case fresh in the minds of people across the city.
With little success or clues so far, except for the discovery of her backpack in October near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, the investigation may wind down with less resources committed to the investigation as time progresses.
“You can’t maintain the level of an investigation once the leads have been exhausted,” said Gamble. Usually, you start to see a scale back after a couple months, but it depends on the case.”
Toronto police const. Tony Vella said the case will never be closed and police will continue to look for Mariam until she, or her body, is found.