19-01 Military Law and Arrest Procedures

Arrests of Military Deserters

• The Kansas City Missouri Police Department has a policy for handling arrests of military deserters and absent without leave (AWOL) individuals.

Terminology

• AWOL: a military service member who, without authority, fails to go to their appointed place of duty at the time prescribed, goes from that place, or is absent or remains absent from their unit, organization, or place of duty.
• Deserter: a military service member who, without authority, goes or remains absent from their unit, organization, or place of duty with the intent to remain away permanently.

Procedure

• Members may detain a service member pending NCIC verification based on information received from a reliable source.
• Verification of wanted status is done by contacting the subject's assigned military branch of service.
• AWOL subjects will not be arrested, but information will be forwarded to the proper military branch.
• Military authorities will take custody of the AWOL service member, and the subject will not be booked at a Department detention facility.
• Members may accompany military authorities to take an AWOL subject into custody.
• AWOL service members may surrender to military authorities at Fort Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas or Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri.

Arrest Procedures for Deserters

• Members have the authority to make an arrest when information from NCIC reveals a person to be wanted for desertion.
• Verification of wanted status is done by contacting the appropriate military branch on the contact list.
• If the deserter has any non-military charge or warrant, they will be transported to the appropriate detention facility for booking.
• If military authorities are not present, and the deserter does not have a non-military charge or warrant, the deserter may be transported to the appropriate detention facility, to await military pickup.
• Members will complete an Incident Report on the Automated Reporting System (ARS) for all arrests of military deserters.

Contact Information

• Contact information for military branches is provided, including the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard.
• The United States Army Military Police Command will assist in verifying the deserter status for service members assigned to any branch of the military.

This quiz covers the procedures for arresting military deserters, referencing the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It is based on the policies of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.