Thirty-four kids reported missing on Long Island and in New York City have been found during a massive three-day rescue operation run out of a command center in Garden City, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday.
The young people found ranged in age from 7 to 18 when they were reported missing to the Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk Police or the NYPD, officials said. They included children who had been trafficked.
The Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation wrapped up Thursday after months of planning. It brought together more than 100 professionals from nearly 40 law enforcement agencies, prosecutors’ offices, social service agencies and advocacy groups, the governor said.
Investigators reviewed case files, ran down new leads, shared intelligence and used technology to track down the missing kids across both counties. Officials said agencies are still working additional cases.
“Every missing child deserves our full attention, and every family deserves answers,” Hochul said. “Our commitment does not end when a child is located.”
The governor explained that the operation was co-led by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Missing Persons Clearinghouse, the state Office of Children and Family Services and the National Child Protection Task Force, a nonprofit that works with police on missing, exploited and trafficked children. State Police provided support.
Social workers and advocates worked alongside detectives to learn why each child disappeared and the kind of services they needed once found, authorities said. Help included safe placement, medical care, counseling, transportation, clothing and food. Medical exams and forensic interviews were done as necessary, officials said.
Among those rescued were 18 children from Nassau County, 12 from Suffolk County and four from Queens, according to Newsday. The governor’s office said another 31 local cases remain open on Long Island.
Rescues not like the movies
Kevin Branzetti, CEO of the National Child Protection Task Force, said most cases bear no resemblance to the movies.
“Not every case ends with a dramatic rescue, a door being kicked in, and a child being carried to safety,” he 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.”
OCFS Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden said the effort targets such problems as human trafficking and homelessness, and aims to cut down on repeat disappearances by connecting kids with resources.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina credited the department’s Criminal Intelligence Section, Human Trafficking Investigations Unit and analysts.
“Children are among our most vulnerable populations and can be especially at risk when missing,” Catalina said.
Huge investigative team
Other partners included the FBI, the Nassau and Suffolk district attorneys’ offices, the Brooklyn and Queens district attorneys’ offices, the Port Authority Police, the Nassau and Suffolk probation departments, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, EAC Network and the child advocacy centers in both counties. Police departments from Glens Falls, New York, and Springdale, Arkansas, also took part.
It is the fourth operation of its kind in New York. Earlier sweeps in Erie County, the Capital Region and Westchester County located 168 missing children and teens.
Across the state, 10,629 children under 18 were reported missing to police in 2025, and 94% of them were classified as runaways, authorities said. At the end of last year, 1,079 missing-child cases remained open statewide.
Top: Members of the Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation collaborate efforts to locate missing children from across Long Island and Queens (courtesy photo).
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