Phoenix Police are asking for the public's help finding a missing child. The appeal provides information about the case and directs people with information to contact police.
The appeal, posted by Phoenix Police
, arrives after a sweeping change to how Arizona law enforcement agencies are required to handle missing child cases. Under revised Arizona Revised Statutes § 8-901, according to the
Arizona Legislature
, police departments must post a missing child's photo, physical description, last known location and a contact number on official social media within 24 hours of taking a report, and route that same information to news outlets in the same window.
Officers are directing anyone with information about the missing-child case to call 602-262-6151 rather than commenting on or messaging the department's social media accounts.
A Law Written to Force Faster, Wider Alerts
Governor Katie Hobbs signed the underlying legislation, Senate Bill 1416, into law on June 19, 2026, reforming § 8-901 to set strict mandatory reporting and public notification deadlines for police handling missing child cases, as reported by KTAR News. The same statute strictly prohibits agencies from using the word runaway in public-facing media or alerts; the sources do not establish why this case is being described as a missing juvenile.
The law also requires agencies to submit missing-child photographs to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. A video posted on ABC15's Facebook page discusses bills protecting Arizona children and reforming the Department of Child Safety.
The Scale of Arizona's Missing Youth Cases
The new mandate lands against a backdrop of significant numbers. An Arizona Missing Child Taskforce advocate is among those mentioned in connection with missing-child issues in Arizona. Nationally, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provides child-protection and investigative support.
Arizona's Department of Child Safety has also tracked missing foster youth. In Phoenix specifically, missing juvenile cases like this are part of the broader missing-child response.
Why Phone Tips, Not Comments
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children separately provides resources on missing-child cases. For this case, leads should go to 602-262-6151.
Anyone with information about the missing-child case is asked to contact Phoenix Police at 602-262-6151.
