Thirty-four children and teenagers reported missing to police in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and to the New York Police Department (NYPD) have been located through the Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation.
Co-led by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Missing Persons Clearinghouse, the Office of Children and Family Services and the National Child Protection Task Force, with support from the New York State Police, the three-day operation brought together more than 100 professionals from nearly 40 agencies and organizations to locate vulnerable young people and connect them with care and support.
“Every missing child deserves our full attention, and every family deserves answers,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This operation brought together the expertise and resources needed to find vulnerable young people and help protect them from exploitation and harm. Our commitment does not end when a child is located. We must also help them get the care, support and stability they need to stay safe.”
The operation, which concluded on October 1, followed months of planning and coordination among participating partners. Working from a centralized command center in Garden City, investigators reviewed case information, pursued new leads, shared intelligence and used technology to support missing-child investigations across both counties. The children and teens located ranged in age from seven to 18 when they were reported missing. Investigating agencies continue to pursue additional cases.
Throughout the operation, law enforcement worked alongside social workers, advocates and community organizations to understand the circumstances surrounding each child’s disappearance and identify their needs after being located. Support included safe placement options, medical care, counseling, transportation, clothing, food and other essentials, tailored to each young person’s circumstances. Medical examinations and forensic interviews were provided when applicable.
These efforts extended beyond locating children to address the conditions that may have contributed to their disappearance and connect them with people and services that can help protect them from further harm.
“Children at risk need the full strength of a community behind them,” DJCS Commissioner Rossana Rosado said. “This operation brought investigators, social workers and advocates together, each contributing expertise that helped find missing young people and connect them with support. That is the power of collaboration.”
New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said this operation is “unique” because “it is much more than a targeted law enforcement operation. The goal is to offer a different type of intervention so that youth will be met with safety, choice and options. OCFS’s aim is to reduce future missing episodes by helping youth understand the resources available to them and by supporting our partners in offering different responses to youth.”
“Not every case ends with a dramatic rescue, a door being kicked in, and a child being carried to safety,” said Kevin Branzetti, CEO of the National Child Protection Task Force. “The reality is that finding a child quickly — hopefully before something bad happens — often takes a coordinated effort.”
However, Branzetti said, “Finding them is only the first step. We need to listen and understand why they left, what they experienced while they were gone, and most importantly, what we can do to help. That is why we believe so strongly in our Find–Listen–Help model. Ultimately, we want to give these kids a chance to have the safe childhood they deserve — the childhood so many of us were fortunate enough to have.”
EAC Network Chief Operating Officer Tania Peterson Chandler said its Child Advocacy Center model takes on “a multidisciplinary approach, bringing law enforcement, child welfare, medical professionals, and victim advocates together. Protecting vulnerable young people takes all of us, and we are honored to have been part of this effort.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Locating a missing child requires persistence, coordination and a shared commitment across law enforcement and our community partners. Every child safely located is a reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together.”
The Office of Children and Family Services coordinated with local service providers and child advocacy organizations to support children and teens located during the operation. These partners will continue to provide short- and long-term support based on each young person’s needs, extending the coordinated response beyond the conclusion of the operation.
This is the fourth missing child rescue operation of its kind in New York State. Previous operations in Erie County, the Capital Region and Westchester County resulted in the location of 168 children and teens reported missing to participating police departments.
A total of 10,629 children younger than 18 were reported missing to police across New York State in 2025, with 94% reported as runaways. During that year, police closed 10,672 cases involving children reported missing in 2025 or earlier years. At the end of 2025, there were 1,079 active missing children cases statewide.
“Children are among our most vulnerable populations and can be especially at risk when missing,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. “This multi-day operation allowed us to pool our resources and work alongside our law enforcement partners to focus on finding these young people and bringing them home safely.”
A list of the participating law enforcement agencies, social services organizations and nonprofits can be found here.