Griffin Glynn is the Chief Investigations Officer at the National Child Protection Task Force, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in criminal investigations and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to lead critical efforts to locate missing, exploited, and trafficked children while providing advanced training worldwide.
In the beginning, our model was simple... provide individualized support for law enforcement officers working cases involving missing, exploited, and trafficked children. As the years passed, a few cases turned in to dozens, and eventually, dozens of cases became hundreds. All the while, our team and collective impact has continued to grow year after year. The proof was clear: our unique approach to this overwhelming and complex problem worked... and that both invigorated and motivated everyone who saw what was possible.
Realizing that our organization was uniquely positioned to do even more for missing and exploited children, the idea for our Missing Child Rescue Operations was born. These carefully structured, multi-jurisdictional collaborative efforts focus on helping advance and ultimately resolve cases involving missing children at scale.
This Operational model is nothing new to law enforcement but it isn’t often leveraged against the backlog of cases involving missing children in communities across America. The NCPTF, with our breadth of personnel and expertise, recognized an opportunity to help organize new operations leveraging our uniquely collaborative approach to address those backlogs.
Earlier this year we were approached to work with a partner agency on one such regional operation. With a substantial number of engaged local, state, and federal partners as well as Child Advocacy Center personnel, other NGOs, and additional wrap-around services focused on offering family & victim support, our team supported dozens of cases involving missing children over the ten-week operation.
Following our careful intake process, NCPTF staff and volunteers began leveraging vendor tools and open-source intelligence techniques to advance open cases, resulting in the creation of dozens of comprehensive intelligence reports.
These reports surfaced potentially actionable leads for the investigating agencies, often uncovering previously unknown social media accounts or online activities linked to missing children. In several instances, alias accounts depicting the child were identified, providing critical information that was previously unknown to law enforcement. All of these findings were promptly provided back to the agencies for consideration and further action.
With each passing day, reply after reply rolled in: children were being recovered.
During this 10-week timeframe, the NCPTF more than doubled the number of cases we’ve assisted on for the entire year. We developed entirely new systems and infrastructure to support this previously unrealized level of organized effort, and we made numerous key findings that will help us make even greater impact at our next operation (which is right around the corner).
And yes, we have some tremendous results to share with you all. Through the efforts and dedication of all the agencies, partners, and personnel involved more than two-thirds of the children from this operation are now recovered. The collective impact of this effort is truly astonishing, and our team is humbled and grateful to have been a small part of something so special.
Dozens of children in need of help received it because a group of incredibly dedicated people broke down silos and put aside egos, instead asking themselves “what can we do... together?”
Seeing so many children with new opportunities for brighter futures is our only true measure of success. As we move forward, we carry with us the profound impact of this collective effort and the knowledge that, united, we can continue to make a difference where it matters most.
Did you know?
Each year, the NCPTF produces 200+ intelligence reports for investigators searching for missing, exploited, and trafficked children. These custom reports contain actionable leads that help move investigations forward with speed & precision.
