Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) History
In response to the concern for missing children in Florida, the 1982 Florida Legislature appropriated funds to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the establishment of the first state Missing Children Information Clearinghouse (MCIC) in the nation and was officially established in 1983. Formerly known as MCIC, the Clearinghouse was renamed the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) in 2008 when the Florida Legislature expanded the clearinghouse to include endangered missing adult cases.
MEPIC serves as a liaison between citizens, private organizations and law enforcement officials regarding missing endangered persons. MEPIC assists law enforcement and families in locating missing persons by providing missing person alerts and analytical services to law enforcement and collecting and disseminating relevant information to the public and other organizations in the search for the missing person.
MEPIC also works with other state clearinghouses, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and INTERPOL to exchange information; tips and leads about missing persons and to help provide each missing person with the best chance of recovery no matter where they might have been taken.
Additional services provided by MEPIC include the issuance of AMBER, Missing Child, State Purple and State Silver Alerts; creation of missing persons flyers, training for law enforcement agencies and public/private organizations regarding missing persons programs; a directory of resources available for additional assistance in locating a child; and development and distribution of safety publications that provide guidance on how to keep you and your family safe.
In 2005, MEPIC began working in collaboration with the Medical Examiners Commission on the
Unidentified Deceased Initiative to help Florida families find the closure that they deserve. Today, there is a Unidentified Deceased Initiative analyst who works to assist local law enforcement, upon their request, on unidentified cases to generate leads for the jurisdictional agency. MEPIC also has Inspectors who provide training and assistance to law enforcement agencies on missing person and crimes against children cases.