DETROIT (WWJ) -- The Detroit Police Department, alongside federal and state partners, has launched the second phase of a multi-agency initiative aimed at finding missing persons and bringing answers to grieving families.
Operation United Project BLOCK (Bringing Lost Ones Closer to Kin) will take place across Detroit’s 6th Precinct area on October 20 and 21, 2026.
The joint initiative combines law enforcement investigative work with city infrastructure efforts.
In addition to searching specific areas tied to active missing persons cases, crews will secure vacant structures, clear overgrown or abandoned lots, and remove debris to assist investigators, the DPD said.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, in a statement Tuesday, emphasized the department's long-term commitment to resolving cold cases and supporting affected families.
“The Detroit Police Department understands the worry families go through when their loved one is missing," said Bettison. “And with that understanding comes a commitment from our department to find the missing members of our community in hopes of reuniting them with loved ones or to bring closure to their families--no matter how much time has passed. Our law enforcement partners, community partners and dedicated police officers are all working together for the second phase of this important operation-- and we will continue to collaborate to make progress in these investigations.”
The operation involves a broad coalition of federal, state, and local entities. Partners include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Michigan State Police, Detroit Fire Department and EMS, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, and several municipal departments—including Public Works, Construction and Demolition, and Water and Sewerage.
The FBI Detroit Field Office's Evidence Response Team will also be deployed on scene to deliver technical search assistance and follow up on incoming leads.
“Every missing person represents a family searching for answers, and the FBI remains committed to helping bring those answers home,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
Residents living in or traveling through Detroit's 6th Precinct should expect to see a heightened police presence, heavy machinery, active cleanup crews, and potential temporary street closures during the two-day operation.
Anyone with information regarding an open missing persons case is encouraged to contact the Detroit Police Department’s Major Crimes Division at 313-596-2260 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up. The public can also submit anonymous tips online at this link.
