Pawlenty signs Brandon’s Law
By Rae KrugerLincoln County Sheriff Jack Vizecky didn't know Gov. Tim Pawlenty had signed Brandon's Law Thursday afternoon because he was out searching for Swanson or evidence of Swanson along the Yellow Medicine River.
Vizecky's department, along with the Lyon County Sheriff's Department and Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Department, have been involved in the search for Swanson since he was reported missing on May 14. He was 19. Multiple searches during the past year have not revealed evidence of Swanson, but search dogs have indicated points of interest. Most recent searches have focused on areas in Lincoln County.
While Vizecky was searching, Brian and Annette Swanson of Marshall were among those who gathered with Gov. Tim Pawlenty in a news conference to announce the bill would become a law with Pawlenty's signature.
"This is a bittersweet moment for us," Annette Swanson said in the news conference. "We would never want to be in the circumstances that brought us here."
Annette Swanson said the law will help families of missing adults.
Vizecky and Lyon County Sheriff Mark Mather said they don't know the details of the law. Mather said he does know it is supposed to create a unified process to respond to missing adult reports across the state.
That uniform response won't cost the state money, Pawlenty said in the news conference.
Tim O'Malley, of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said law enforcement will have access to tools and resources needed when an adult such as Swanson is reported missing.
Brandon's Law has focused on a more aggressive response from law enforcement when young adults are reported missing or when adults are reported in dangerous circumstances, supporters have said. The law will create a unified structure in response so that agencies are better able to cooperate, supporters said.
The law will also result in DNA and other data being submitted to national clearing houses and Web sites for missing adults. That way if a missing Minnesota adult is found in another state, information can be tested for matches.
O'Malley said the submission of DNA and other information could help to find adults who have missing for several years.
Mather said Lyon County responded quickly after Swanson's parents reported him missing.
A cell phone call between Swanson and his parents ended abruptly. Swanson had told his parents his car was in the ditch near Lynd and his parents contacted the Sheriff's Department after they had searched for him near Lynd. Authorities later traced the cell phone call to a tower near Taunton and Swanson's car was found in a ditch along the Lincoln and Lyon County border road, the Yellow Medicine River and Taunton.
Mather said Swanson's DNA and other information was listed with national clearing houses and Web sites.
"I think this law does pertain to other state (law enforcement departments) that haven't entered data on the computer network or haven't taken DNA samples," Mather said.
Brandon's Law will be become a law and the next step is to have a committee create the working document and model for response to reported missing adults, said Dave Francis, of the Francis Foundation Francis is the father of Jon Francis who was reported missing on July 14, 2004 in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Jon Francis' remains were found on July 24 , 2004 after his family led a search for him.
Vizecky said he expected Pawlenty to sign the bill into law. Meanwhile the search will continue, he said.
