The Officer-In-Charge of the Coquitlam RCMP says he has never seen such a high level of public interest and offers of help as he has to find missing man Shin Noh.
Noh, 64, was last seen a month ago when he left for his morning walk in the area of Guilford and Lansdowne in Coquitlam.
He suffers from Alzheimer’s, and speaks mostly Korean but can speak English.
Now the police are addressing questions about whether they could or should have done more to find missing Shin Noh.
Officer-In-Charge, Supt. Claude Wilcott, wrote an open letter to the public today saying that every investigative step that could have been taken to find Noh has been taken.
“Ever since Sam Noh first called Coquitlam RCMP to report his father missing on September 18th, the search for Shin Noh has captured the hearts and the attention of everyone in the Tri-Cities. In the four weeks since that report went public dozens of people have taken part in the search, hundreds have supported the search by forwarding tips, and thousands have engaged with the search through the social media platforms set up by Mr. Noh’s family. I can honestly say that the public response to Mr. Noh’s disappearance is unlike anything I’ve witnessed in almost forty years of policing,” Wilcott writes.
“Unfortunately, as we all know, Mr. Noh has yet to be found. That sad fact is weighing on everyone who has participated in or followed the search but it weighs most heavily on Mr. Noh’s close circle of family and friends. Understandably, frustration levels are rising and questions are being asked about whether more could or should be done to find him. Some of those questions have focused on whether my investigators have done everything in their power to find Mr. Noh. I am writing today to address those questions.”
Wilcott writes that he wants to assure everyone that from the moment Noh was reported missing, he was assessed as ‘high risk.’
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“Further, every step my team has taken has been taken without delay.”
The RCMP have distributed Noh’s photo and description via mainstream and social media, conducted door-to-door neighbourhood inquiries, maintained daily 24/7 communication with Noh’s family, coordinated a grid search with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, and dispatched uniformed officers and volunteers to follow up on the 110 plus tips that have come in since Noh went missing.
“On behalf of my entire team of investigators, volunteers and staff who have worked on this file, I want to express my deepest respect for Mr. Noh’s family and friends. They are a resourceful, tightknit group who have shown extraordinary courage and strength dealing with a situation that most of us will never have to go through. I also want to express my team’s gratitude to all the citizens who have been part of the search. Your compassion, commitment and selflessness make our communities better and safer places for everyone,” writes Wilcott.
“In closing I want to assure all of you that my team has done everything in their power to find Shin Noh and bring Shin Noh home and we will continue to work with his family and friends until that happens.”
Facebook page to find Shin Noh.
Noh was last seen wearing a green and blue plaid shirt, dark green pants, and a black New York Rangers baseball cap.
He is described as:
• An Asian male,
• 5’6″ tall,
• Average build,
• Clean shaven,
• Black hair which is greying on the sides.
If you spot Shin Noh call 911 immediately. Anyone with information about Noh or his current whereabouts is asked to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2013-27945. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2222-TIPS(8477) or online at www.solvecrime.ca.
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