34 Missing Children, Teens From LI Rescued In Massive 3-Day Operation: Officials

LONG ISLAND, NY — A total of 34 missing children and teens across Long Island have been rescued in an intense three-day operation, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Children and Family Services and National Child Protection Task Force co-led the operation, with support from New York State Police, she said.

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The children and teens, reported missing to police in Nassau and Suffolk counties and to the NYPD, were located through the Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation, Hochul said.

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, Hochul said.

According to Newsday, 18 were from Nassau County, 12 from Suffolk County and four from Queens.

"Every missing child deserves our full attention, and every family deserves answers," 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 Thursday, followed months of planning and coordination among participating partners, Hochul said.

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, Hochul said.

The children and teens located ranged in age from 7 to 18 when they were reported missing. Investigating agencies continue to pursue additional cases, she added.

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, Hochul said.

The 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, she said.

Officials said that the teens were runaways as well as those who may have been trafficked or were homeless.

A total of 10,629 children younger than 18 were reported missing to police across New York State in 2025, with 94 percent 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, officials said.

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado reflected: "Children at risk need the full strength of a community behind them. 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 added: "I am so proud of OCFS's partnership with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the National Child Protection Task Force to facilitate our state's fourth successful Missing Child Operation. I am also grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for her ongoing support for vulnerable young people who need our compassion and assistance as they face complex challenges such as human trafficking and homelessness. The Missing Child Operation is unique in that 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."

National Child Protection Task Force Chief Executive Officer Kevin Branzetti also weighed in. "Not every case ends with a dramatic rescue, a door being kicked in, and a child being carried to safety. The reality is that finding a child quickly — hopefully before something bad happens — often takes a coordinated effort. But 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."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James discussed the rescue. "Locating a missing child requires persistence, coordination and a shared commitment across law enforcement and our community partners. The New York State Police is proud to support this operation and work alongside agencies and organizations throughout Long Island to help locate these vulnerable children and connect them with the resources and support they need. 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. Those 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, all involved said.

The effort was 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.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina added: "Children are among our most vulnerable populations and can be especially at risk when missing. 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. I want to thank our Criminal Intelligence Section, Human Trafficking Investigations Unit and our analysts for their hard work and dedication throughout this operation."