What does the “Start Search” function do?

[Strummer]

I know it brings in trailers to clear the map of remaining “obstacles”; last night, as often happens, I had played the crack house mission in Training mode but couldn’t finish the mission because one civilian remained to be found. I bought up the Gold orders menu, spotted the Start Search order, clicked on it and voila, the invisible civvy was found so that I could get my grade and go to bed. My questions are: Will I ever see the bots that do this search or is it abstracted? When does the order become available?

[SaLaĐiN]

It order you team ai to search the room for evidence, dead bodies etc... It does not bring anyone. There is search and secure command after which they will look for remaining evidence and hostages, but it sometimes bugs out and bots won't do anything.

[🆂🆈🅽🅿🅰🆃🅷🆈]

Basically when it is safe to do so (Bring order to chaos) They will scour the map looking for the things that were left around during the raid.

HOWEVER: This will not find sub objectives. Like the money and child in Twisted nerve. You must find those yourself

If everything is accounted for Sub objectives included. The map will automatically end after a TOC statement. You don't need to vote end.

[🆂🆈🅽🅿🅰🆃🅷🆈]

Originally posted by SaLaDiN:

[..]but it sometimes bugs out and bots won't do anything.

Correct, telling them fall in and then doing the order again will most of the time fix this.

This works even with "Open and Clear" type commands where they just stand there lost as well

[Saint Pablo]

When you select start search, it's your team AI splitting up and actively searching a singular area for any leftover evidence, civilians or suspects.
As for the trailers, it's a hit or miss whether you'll see them or not. I've only seen them a few times, and that's after sticking around for a very long while after the main objectives were completed. Their sole purpose is to simply pick up and transport arrested/dead civvies and suspects.

[Strummer]

Many thanks for the clarification. It’s useful because I dislike spending more time post-mission looking for the one remaining objective that will end it than I have actually playing it.

[Geek In Peace]

For me it didnt work one single time.
With the order "search and secure" my teammates just do nothing, and I have to look for the entire map to find the last civ. And for some mpas I think its broken because I cant find any remaining

[Strummer]

Originally posted by Geek In Peace:

For me it didnt work one single time.
With the order "search and secure" my teammates just do nothing, and I have to look for the entire map to find the last civ. And for some mpas I think its broken because I cant find any remaining

Agreed.

[Adidas]

I like the concept of it (better than a 'magic mop' at the end) - but it's still freaking annoying that they don't pick up evidence. If you watch people who actually manage to survive the t800 bot no scope accross maps, you'll find they all play the same : super aggressive, no warning, just shoot shoot shoot as if it was freaking iraq during the war.
Sadly, the way this game is removes ALL incentives to take your time, it's room to room to room, wedge whatever you can while in a total panic the bots will 180 scope you in 0.1 second (someone timed it), and screw the police work.
.. in a police tactical shooter. Dear lord.
Anyways tldr : OP is right, game is broken to bits, WE LOVE YOU MODS.
I'm having an episode leave me alone. I waited 20+ years for a replacement to swat3.