How To Coordinate With Law Enforcement When They’re Not Taking Your Case Seriously

You call about your missing sister. They say, “She’ll turn up.” Sound familiar? I’ve been there—heart pounding, phone shaking, and no one cares. Indigenous families like ours face this too often. Someone’s gone—5,712 in 2016 alone (National Crime Info Center)—but cops barely blink. Only 116 hit federal logs (NamUs). It’s real, and it hurts.

Here’s how to coordinate with law enforcement when they’re not taking your case seriously—stuff that works, from tools to tough talks. This is straight from the gut, backed by what’s out there as of March 21, 2025. Not legal advice—check your local rules. You can push them—let’s figure it out together.

Why They’re Not Listening—And How To Catch Them Slipping

They’ve Got Holes Bigger Than Us

Indigenous cases slip through—only 9% of MMIW murders get solved in northern California (Sovereign Bodies, 2020), while others hit 60%. Cops shrug. “She ran off,” they say, or “Was she high?” I’ve heard it—families told PBS the same in 2021.

Then there’s the jurisdiction mess. Three days arguing who’s in charge? That’s time we don’t have. Time that could bring our sisters, daughters, and mothers home.

Write Down Their Mess

Grab your phone—record calls if your state’s cool with one-party consent. Jot down names, dates, what they dodge. “Officer X, 3/21/25, said wait.” Snap pics—your flyers, your searches.

My aunt did this when her girl vanished—proof we weren’t crazy. It piles up fast. Your notes become your armor when they try to say you never called or they never promised to follow up.

First Steps To Make Them Move

Report It Right—Push Hard

Don’t wait 24 hours—that’s a lie the DOJ’s busted. Call now. Ask, “Is this in NCIC?” That’s the national list they’re supposed to use.

No answer? Demand a case number. My cousin got one after bugging them twice—it’s your ticket in. Without it, they can pretend the conversation never happened.

Pull In Help Fast

Skip the locals—tribal police step up if you’re on rez land. Not Our Native Daughters swears by it. Get the RIV app—alerts and leads in your pocket.

Victim advocates too—try CBI at 303-239-4211 if you’re in Colorado. I called once—got a real person. Someone who didn’t look at me like I was overreacting, someone who understood the fear clawing at my chest.

When They Drag Their Feet—Turn Up the Heat

Climb Past Them

File a FOIA—public records spill what they’re hiding. Heard about Washington’s MIPA on X? It’s an alert system that works—bug your state for one. Hit the DOJ’s MMIP unit—http://justice.gov takes calls.

My friend’s FOIA showed cops sat on her niece’s file—lit a fire under them. The shame of exposure works wonders when professional duty falls short.

Get Loud Where It Counts

Post #MMIW—95% of cases miss the news (UIHI, 2018), so we fill it. Tag your local station—small ones bite on family stories. Rally your crew—100 walkers in Antlers, OK, woke up cops.

I marched once—felt good, worked better. There’s power in our collective voice, a thunder they can’t ignore when we stand together, holding photos of the ones we love.

When They’re No Good—Do It Ourselves

Round Up Your Own Crew

Hire a private eye if you’ve got cash—they dig where cops won’t. Search with kin—elders in B.C. spotted clues cops missed. Hit up NWAC—http://nwac.ca has real help.

My uncle hired a guy—found a lead in a week. Sometimes the answers are waiting for someone who actually cares enough to look.

Keep Your Head Up

Tell media when to back off—OMMIR says it’s okay to say no. Talk to advocates—trauma’s heavy; don’t carry it alone. Write every clue down—RIV’s notes work too.

I scribbled everything—kept me sane. When the world is spinning out of control, your notes become an anchor, a way to hold onto hope when it feels like it’s slipping through your fingers.

Your Questions, Straight Answers

What if they say it’s not their job?
Push back—ask who’s in charge and write it down. Call tribal or state cops next. Their mess, not yours.

How do I check if they’ve logged it?
Ask for the NCIC number—takes five minutes. No number? They’re slacking.

Can I make media care?
Not forced, but #MMIW and tags work—Tina Fontaine’s case blew up that way. Start small.

What’s RIV got that cops don’t?
GPS, alerts, notes—faster, ours. Cops drag; RIV flies.

You’ve Got This, We’re With You

Caitlin’s mom waited—don’t you. Coordinate with law enforcement when they’re not taking your case seriously by tracking their excuses, pushing hard, climbing higher, and building your own team. RIV, social media, your voice—they get results.

Post #MMIW today. Fight with us—Echoes of Silence is family, and we’re here. Backed by real stories and National Inquiry—true as of March 21, 2025.

Start today—we’ll win together.