More than two dozen missing children were found in Florida after a three-day multi-agency search.
According to a press release from the National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF), the initiative has resulted in the discovery of 25 children across six Florida counties as of June 18, as well as new investigative leads in several missing child cases.
The NCPTF organized the event, which took place at the Jacksonville office of Operation Light Shine, a nonprofit “dedicated to equipping law enforcement and frontline responders with the resources, intelligence, and technology needed to combat human trafficking and child exploitation.”
Photos taken during the operation show people from various organizations huddled over computers and a large screen with a counter indicating the number of “missing children located.”
Before the total count reached 25, Kevin Branzetti, CEO of NCPTF, told local CBS affiliate WJAX that the first 21 children found during the operation ranged in age from 7 to 17 years old.
Branzetti stated that some of the children had been missing for just over a week, while others went missing for more than 400 days before being discovered, according to the Jacksonville outlet.
“The multi-agency operation involved intensive case review, investigative follow-up, and the application of advanced technology to rapidly locate children reported missing across Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Putnam, and Flagler Counties,” according to the NCPTF press release.
“Throughout the three-day effort, law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, social service providers, NGOs, and private partners collaborated to review cases, uncover leads, and develop trauma-informed strategies to help each child gain long-term safety and stability once recovered.”
In an Instagram post, Operation Light Shine highlighted some of the specific cases that resulted from the effort, writing that “countless lives forever changed” and that “what we witnessed this week was extraordinary.”
According to the nonprofit, among the missing children was a “girl who had nothing, offering her only meal to the advocate who helped her,” as well as “teens reimagining their future — asking about GEDs, stable housing, and careers.”
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tim Tebow Foundation, all contributed to the effort.
A group photo shared by several of the organizations and agencies involved shows that more than 70 people were involved.
“There is no greater responsibility than to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our youth, and keep our community safe. “Operations like this demonstrate the power of working together for a common goal,” said a spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Tim Tebow echoed this in an official statement: “One of our non-negotiables at the Tim Tebow Foundation is that there is power when we work together.
We are honored to join this incredible team of law enforcement, child protection agencies, experts, and partners in standing in the gap for these missing and vulnerable children.”
“Our heart is to fight for the world’s Most Vulnerable People – the real MVPs – and we’re so encouraged that we were able to be a part of impacting these lives this week,” the owner of the Tim Tebow Foundation said.
The NCPTF hopes that each of the 25 children found during the Florida operation will lead to the recovery of even more missing children across the state.
“Detailed results and further information on individual cases will be managed confidentially by respective law enforcement agencies to protect the privacy of the involved minors,” according to the news release. “As case work continues, additional rescues are expected throughout the region.”
