A three-day search across Queens and Long Island brought 34 missing children and teens back to safety, with officials also connecting them to support and care.
The children were aged 7 to 18 and they were connected with support services. Nearly 100 professionals from 40 agencies and organizations teamed up for the operation.
As per The New York Post , the “Long Island Children Rescue Operation” ended disappearances that had lasted anywhere from a few days to 10 years. Almost all of the children were runaways, while some faced exploitation and human trafficking . The investigators worked from one command center in Garden City. There, they reviewed case information, followed new leads, shared intelligence and used technology to help close missing children cases across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The children found included 18 from Nassau County, 12 from Suffolk County and four from Queens, according to Newsday. The governor’s office says another 31 local cases are still open. Law enforcement worked with social workers, advocates and community groups to understand why each child went missing and what help they needed after being found. The support included safe housing, medical care, counseling, transportation, clothing, food and other basic needs, depending on each child’s situation.
