SGV Tribune posted an article on how a missing person search was established by private citizens (not police) using Facebook. A young man named Vincent Giovanazzi went missing and unfortunately he ended his life before he could be located. A family friend of Giovanazzi's parents set up a missing person Facebook page for Vincent. The Facebook page popularity caught on and a large number of people (200+) turned out to look for Vincent Giovanazzi. The search was successful and Vincent Giovanazzi's body was recovered. Subsequently, the Facebook page for Vincent Giovanazzi was turned into a memorial page with information about the young man's memorial service and funeral. Why didn't police create the missing person Facebook page?
Police applauded the use of a Facebook page as a missing person tool, but they also commented that pages like this could get out of control if used in an attempt to solve criminal cases. I am not sure I agree with Glendora Police Department, Lt. Tim Staab's statement regarding the use of Facebook pages by citizens to solve crimes. If police are not going to use these tools then citizens should and have the right of free speech to do so. I am not encouraging citizens to hinder investigations, but getting the word out to as many people as possible usually solves crimes faster than waiting for a lead. Back to the topic of using Facebook as a missing person tool. What a fabulous idea, specifically in this case where the victim was a younger individual.
Social media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube have not been tapped to their potential as tools to help in missing person/criminal cases. Take for example the ability to leverage these social media giants in missing person cases, criminal cases, and as a possible location to develop criminal leads for investigations. Again, social media and law enforcement are two separate worlds that are on a collision course called "cultural communication change." There should be a huge takeaway in this unfortunate incident in the age of the victim and that social media was a key factor in recovering the victim's body.
I anticipate the Glendora Police Department may be reevaluating the need to get involved in social media. A check of their website showed no involvement in social media, but maybe this incident will spur them to at least consider the usefulness of social media as law enrforcement tools. I have a feeling we will be seeing "missing person" pages and "crime help plea" pages on Facebook in the future. As social media continues to change how people communicate, so will it change how process is handled in missing person cases, criminal cases, etc. Again, social media is not the end all be all, but it is here and deserves respect as a massive form of communication.
**To the family of Vincent Giovanazzi I am sorry for your loss and my prayers go out to you. This article was not written to exploit your son's death in anyway. This article was written to encourage law enforcement and others to implement social media as a law enforcement tool.**
