Finding a 12 yr old runaway is not a waste of resources. Lots of children runaway and wind up being forced into aweful things. Imo any minor that is missing is no waste of resources to find them, even if they did run away they are still just children, maybe in need of some direction or a mentor, maybe therapy or maybe just need someone to care.
I can understand that point of view.
I still think it was a complete waste of resources.