sarahhod
05-23-2009, 06:58 PM
Missing Girl Case Draws Police Review
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Police in Allentown are launching an internal review after Fox 29 uncovered what may have been a costly error in the early stages of an investigation.
At stake is the safety of a teenaged girl who is mentally impaired.
When the girl went missing Sunday night, Allentown police did not immediately begin searching for her, reported Fox 29's Claudia Gomez.
Two and a half days passed before they launched a ground search.
The reason for the mistake is not clear. It may have been an error in judgment by the first responding police officer, a language barrier or both.
Courtney Neve is a girl in trouble. She has no money, no resources, and the mental capacity of a child much younger than her 16 years. Courtney has been missing now for five long days.
"As each day goes by, we, our concern grows because we don't know how she would be sustaining herself,” says Assistant Chief Joseph Hanna of Allentown Police Department.
Courtney lives in a foster home on North 4th Street in Allentown. Her father had given up his parental rights years ago after her ongoing struggle with a form of autism and bipolar disorder. Sunday night, Courtney walked around the corner to a laundromat. When her foster mother stopped in to check on her, she ran and hasn't been seen since.
Her foster mother did not want to appear on camera. She explained in Spanish that she's been a foster mom for almost 12 years. But she's never been through anything like this. When she called police Sunday night, she told Fox 29 the Allentown police officer didn't seem too concerned. And, in fact, she says the officer didn't even want to take Courtney's photo.
"She was initially listed as a runaway," says Asst. Chief Hanna.
That may have cost valuable time. Police didn't begin an all-out search for Courtney until Wednesday morning.
"I believe initially she told us that she had some emotional problems, but it really didn't come to light as to the extent of her mental infirmity until that Tuesday evening,” says Asst. Chief Hanna.
The foster mother insists she told the police officer Sunday night that Courtney had "mental problems." Now it may be too late to save her.
"Because of her mental state, she can much more easily become a victim,” says Asst. Chief Hanna.
Investigators have questioned the police officer who initially responded to the foster mother's call. He told them there were "no indications the girl had a mental infirmity."
Allentown police say they will go back and look at what went wrong. But in the meantime, still no sign of Courtney Neve.
Anyone with information is urged to call police.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052209_Internal_Police_Review_Into_Missing_Girl_Ca se
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Police in Allentown are launching an internal review after Fox 29 uncovered what may have been a costly error in the early stages of an investigation.
At stake is the safety of a teenaged girl who is mentally impaired.
When the girl went missing Sunday night, Allentown police did not immediately begin searching for her, reported Fox 29's Claudia Gomez.
Two and a half days passed before they launched a ground search.
The reason for the mistake is not clear. It may have been an error in judgment by the first responding police officer, a language barrier or both.
Courtney Neve is a girl in trouble. She has no money, no resources, and the mental capacity of a child much younger than her 16 years. Courtney has been missing now for five long days.
"As each day goes by, we, our concern grows because we don't know how she would be sustaining herself,” says Assistant Chief Joseph Hanna of Allentown Police Department.
Courtney lives in a foster home on North 4th Street in Allentown. Her father had given up his parental rights years ago after her ongoing struggle with a form of autism and bipolar disorder. Sunday night, Courtney walked around the corner to a laundromat. When her foster mother stopped in to check on her, she ran and hasn't been seen since.
Her foster mother did not want to appear on camera. She explained in Spanish that she's been a foster mom for almost 12 years. But she's never been through anything like this. When she called police Sunday night, she told Fox 29 the Allentown police officer didn't seem too concerned. And, in fact, she says the officer didn't even want to take Courtney's photo.
"She was initially listed as a runaway," says Asst. Chief Hanna.
That may have cost valuable time. Police didn't begin an all-out search for Courtney until Wednesday morning.
"I believe initially she told us that she had some emotional problems, but it really didn't come to light as to the extent of her mental infirmity until that Tuesday evening,” says Asst. Chief Hanna.
The foster mother insists she told the police officer Sunday night that Courtney had "mental problems." Now it may be too late to save her.
"Because of her mental state, she can much more easily become a victim,” says Asst. Chief Hanna.
Investigators have questioned the police officer who initially responded to the foster mother's call. He told them there were "no indications the girl had a mental infirmity."
Allentown police say they will go back and look at what went wrong. But in the meantime, still no sign of Courtney Neve.
Anyone with information is urged to call police.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/052209_Internal_Police_Review_Into_Missing_Girl_Ca se