The Protectors say they’ve learned quite a bit following the Brittany Fish case, some of what they discovered was comforting; other aspects, like what they learned about sex offenders, shocked them even more.
When the unthinkable happened to Brittany's family, the unexpected happened for Syracuse police. They had never before dealt with a case of this magnitude, nor seen a response so large.
Syracuse Police Chief Gary Miguel: “We have different agencies in law enforcement groups, you don't always know how much of a resource is available to do at any one time, and frankly I was overwhelmed by the effort and cooperation.”
Cooperation from the New York State Police, the Sheriff's Department, and FBI. Turfs for these agencies disappeared as police tried to find the little girl. Along the way, the discovered resources they never knew existed.
Syracuse Police Spokesperson Sgt. Tom Connellan: “The night she went missing, we were able to e-mail a picture of Brittany and within 45 minutes there was a poster made up and sent to every truck stop, rest stop, hotel all along the east coast, we had no idea that was even possible!”
Valuable lessons learned.
What they learned about sex offenders in our community shocked them. Two large boxes are full with just some of the cases, they never knew how many there are, and how difficult it is to track them.
Detective Mark Kleist: “I knew there were a number of them out there. I never fathomed how big the number of them is.”
“We were looking for people and we end up finding out, there were dead, and they were still on the list.”
“The numbers just overwhelming, to think there are that many offenders in our community, it's good to know we're keeping track as best we can, but a lot of them slip through the cracks as well.”
There's consensus, when it comes to tracking sex offenders, the system needs to improve. There's also agreement, as a result of this case, there is now a better investigative system in place, and should the unthinkable ever happen again.
“Having a true stranger abduction, which we had happen, we have things now in our repertoire, should it happen again.”
“I hope we never have to, you know, I hope we don't have to go through this again, if we do, we'll be ready.”
Syracuse Police also did a critique of their response to the abduction; what they could have, should have done, and what did right. Lessons they hope, will make them better, and our community, safer.
