Late last year, a KCCI investigation triggered a change in Iowa’s legislature. This investigation questioned why so many missing Iowans were also missing photos from the state database. KCCI is also investigating why driver’s license photos cannot be used in this database. Three weeks after the story aired, a bill was introduced in the Iowa House that would allow law enforcement agencies to use driver’s license photos. It was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in late May. Now, about six months later, pictures of most of the more than 300 people in the state database of the Iowa Department of Public Safety are still missing. “We just have to make sure we’re doing it right and make sure we’re adding the right picture for the right person.” The database has more people with pictures linked to driver’s license photos. The blue background behind people, the same blue background you see at the DMV, is visible in photos. Rahmanovic said they are adding photos. “We work every day and progress every day,” she said. Rahmanovic says using driver’s license photos is great, but a photo directly from a family member is better. “We encourage everyone to send in their private pictures. They’re just more valuable,” she said. Earlier this week, Ankeny Police were searching for a missing man. The department used a driver’s license photo to quickly release an image of John Janssen to the public. A department spokesman told KCCI that there weren’t many other recent photos of Janssen when he went missing. Days later he was found. Family members missing loved ones can send a photo to mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us. Since DPS is not the investigative agency for every case, they have to rely on the local police departments to send them a photo. Using a driver’s license photo is the next step. “A photo just gives a missing person poster that extra something,” said Rahmanovic. The goal? All missing Iowans have that little something extra, with a photo next to their name.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Late last year, a KCCI investigation triggered a change in Iowa’s legislature. This investigation questioned why so many missing Iowans were also missing photos from the state database. KCCI is also investigating why driver’s license photos cannot be used in this database.
Three weeks after the story aired, a bill was introduced in the Iowa House that would allow law enforcement agencies to use driver’s license photos. It was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in late May.
Now, around six months later, pictures of most of the more than 300 people in the state database are still missing.
“We’re still working on the bugs,” said Medina Rahmanovic, who oversees the database at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “We just have to make sure we’re doing it right, make sure we’re adding the right image for the right person.”
The database contains more people with pictures using driver’s license photos. The blue background behind people, the same blue background you see at the DMV, is visible in photos. Rahmanovic said they are adding photos.
“We work every day and progress every day,” she said.
Rahmanovic says using driver’s license photos is great, but a photo directly from a family member is better.
“We encourage everyone to send in the private pictures you have. They’re just more valuable,” she said.
Earlier this week, Ankeny Police were searching for a missing man. The department used a driver’s license photo to quickly release an image of John Janssen to the public. A department spokesman told KCCI that there weren’t many other recent photos of Janssen when he went missing. Days later he was found.
Family members missing loved ones can send a photo to mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us. Since DPS is not the investigative agency for every case, they have to rely on the local police departments to send them a photo. Using a driver’s license photo is the next step.
“A photo just adds something extra to a poster of missing people,” Rahmanovic said.
The goal? All missing Iowans have that little something extra, with a photo next to their name.
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