What action must be taken if a missing person report meets the established criteria?

When a missing person report meets the established criteria, the action that must be taken is to submit a report to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This step is essential because the NCIC serves as a national database that assists law enforcement agencies in tracking and recovering missing persons. Submitting the report to NCIC allows the information to be disseminated across jurisdictions and increases the chances of locating the individual.

The NCIC database functions as a vital tool for law enforcement, providing them immediate access to pertinent information about missing persons. It also ensures that details about the case are shared widely, thereby enhancing the collaborative efforts of various agencies in the search for the missing individual.

The other options, while they may play a role in the broader context of handling missing person cases, do not fulfill the specific requirement established by NCIC protocols. Notifying local media, conducting a search, or filing a written report may be necessary steps in the overall process, but the immediate priority is the submission of the report to NCIC.