The Special Commission on Missing Persons and Sex crimes was created after the killings allegedly committed by Anthony Sowell came to light, highlighting a need to improve police investigations of missing persons and sex crimes.
The committee has reported to Mayor Frank Jackson that it is impressed with some changes, and highlighted a new police missing person's website that it says has markedly improved police interaction with the public.
Panel member and former police chief Mary Bounds.
MARY BOUNDS:
"We could see tangible evidence of the progress that is being made... Folks have come to us and stated that they saw someone on that missing persons list."
The group also praised physical improvements to create a missing persons division where city residents can report crimes, or offer tips to help solve them - in anonymity.
That's among 18 completed tasks of 26 assigned, with the rest in progress.
Panelist and Rape Crisis Center CEO Megan O'Bryan expressed satisfaction with the effort - and says the delay in some implementation comes because of the number of agencies that must be integrated into the process.
MEGAN O'BRYAN:
"Not only within the division of police, but I think as a whole community, including our addictions community, the homeless community, all of us - our eyes have really been opened to what type of resources systemically as a whole community, need to be available for survivors of these crimes."
There are not firm timetables for the completion of all the other projects. Bounds insists each is on schedule, and that the region will benefit from the work being done.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
