*Update: 69 Missing Children Have Been Located As of 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2025.
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services partners with state Office of Children and Family Services, and National Child Protection Task Force to find children at risk of exploitation and harm
More than 60 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations and private partners leverage their resources and provide critical investigative support to police departments in Albany, Schenectady and Troy
For Immediate Release:Â 3/13/2025
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) today announced that 64 children and teens reported missing as runaways to police in Albany, Schenectady and Troy have been located through the first-ever Capital Region Missing Child Rescue Operation. The operation, coordinated by DCJS in partnership with the state Office of Children and Family Services, and the National Child Protection Task Force, leveraged the experience, expertise and resources of more 60 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners to provide critical investigative support to the three police departments.
"I am so proud of this ground-breaking work, which is coordinated by our Missing Persons Clearinghouse staff and the National Child Protection Task Force and supported by more than 60 public and private sector partners," DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado said. "These operations have resulted in the location of dozens of missing children from Western New York and the Capital Region, and we plan to continue our efforts to better protect and support at-risk youth, reduce crime, and make our communities safer for all."
The three-day operation, which concluded today, convened public, nonprofit and private partners with one goal: to explore new leads, review case notes and leverage technology to find children who are at risk of endangerment, exploitation and harm. The 64 children and teens ranged in age from 2 to 17 years old when they were reported missing, and from 6 to 22 years old when found. Albany Police Department closed 48 cases; Troy, 11; and Schenectady, five. The Colonie Police Department also located a 25-year-old missing vulnerable adult, bringing to 65 the total number of individuals located as of 3 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2025.
The Office of Children and Family Services coordinated with nonprofit organizations and victim assistance programs throughout the Capital Region to assist the investigations and provide services and support for children who were recovered, with the goal of addressing their needs and preventing future missing episodes The National Child Protection Task Force also received donations from Cash App and Square, Penlink, and Target's store in Niskayuna to provide children and teens with essential items they may need, everything from food and clothing to haircare services.
A total of 12,114 children younger than 18 were reported missing to police across the state in 2024, with 95 percent of them reported as runaways. Last year, police closed 12,310 cases involving children reported missing in 2024 or years' prior. At the end of 2024, there were 1,067 active missing children cases statewide.
New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, "Ensuring the safety and well-being of missing children is not just a government responsibility, rather a moral and societal imperative, that requires the leveraging of all resources and stakeholders – public and private. Given the success of last year's pilot Missing Child Rescue Operation, OCFS is proud to continue our support in the second iteration of this effort led by DCJS by partnering with runaway and homeless youth providers, local districts of social services, child advocacy centers, law enforcement, and community members to aide in the safe return of young people known to be missing."
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "These child rescue operations highlight how collaboration between agencies at all levels of government can produce successful outcomes. I am proud of our contributions to this outstanding effort, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to raise awareness and keep children safe in New York State."
National Child Protection Task Force Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Branzetti said, "At NCPTF, our commitment is simple: Find. Listen. Help. Every missing child is at risk, regardless of how they are classified—runaway, abducted, or missing. And every child deserves urgency, care, and action. Time is critical in every missing child case, and the damage of prolonged missing is immeasurable. Whether a child is missing for an hour, a day, or a month, the longer they are gone, the greater the risk to their innocence and safety. This week we helped another community better protect its most vulnerable children—not just today, but for the future. Together, along with the Missing Persons Clearinghouse, we are creating a lasting system of rapid response, prevention, and support."
The National Child Protection Task Force also collected more than 100 letters of thanks from survivors of crime, law enforcement and private citizens from across the nation and world to share with the 150 professionals who worked the operation:
"Thank you for doing everything in your power to help little girls like me. With Respect and Admiration, A Survivor" – Tay from Wisconsin
"I may not know you, but I want you to know that what you do matters. Thank you for giving endangered missing kids a chance." – Tom C. from New York
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, "The Albany Police Department is honored to be playing an integral part in the Missing Child Rescue Operation. We want to extend our gratitude to the Division of Criminal Justice Services and staff of its Missing Persons Clearinghouse for bringing together an experienced group of individuals. This collaboration brings new investigative ideas and a shared goal to ensure the safe return of missing children. The Albany Police Department is committed to exploring every possible investigative tactic to achieve this goal, while also improving safety measures to prevent future incidents."
Troy Police Department Chief Daniel P. DeWolf said, "The Missing Child Rescue Operation provided a unique opportunity for investigators from our department to team up with peers from across the Capital Region, as well as experts from the private sector, to locate missing children who otherwise could be vulnerable to exploitation and harm. By sharing skills, knowledge and resources, we succeeded in finding these youth and linking them with support to help keep them safe."
Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said, "It has been an honor for our department to assist with this exciting new initiative, which accelerates the pace of missing child investigations by gathering experts in one place to pool resources, share skills and locate missing children, all of whom face potential danger due to their ages, lack of resources and limited support when they leave home. In locating these children, we can help ensure their safety and work with providers to obtain the help and guidance they need for improved outcomes in school and in life. Each child we locate means there is one less child in danger of being victimized, entering the criminal justice system, and becoming another tragic statistic."
This is the second operation spearheaded by staff of the DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse and the NCPTF, with the first in Erie County resulting in the location of 47 children reported missing as runways to police departments in Buffalo and Amherst. The National Child Protection Task Force will host three Missing Child Rescue Operations nationwide this year and plans to return to New York in early 2026.
Albany County partners: Police departments in Albany and Colonie; the Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center; Department for Children, Youth and Families; District Attorney's Office; Probation Department; Sheriff's Office; and Youth Bureau.
Rensselaer County partners: Troy Police Department; the Department of Mental Health; Probation Department; and Social Services.
Schenectady County partners: Police departments in Rotterdam and Schenectady; Child Protective Services/Social Services; District Attorney's Office; Probation Department; Public Defender's Office Parent Peer Advocate; Sheriff's Department; and Youth Bureau
Community-based organizations, hospitals, and victim assistance programs: Albany Medical Center; Albany Memorial Hospital; Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady; CAPTAIN; Community Maternity Services; Ellis Hospital; Hope House; LaSalle School; New Choices Recovery; Northern Rivers; Safe Inc.; OCFS-supported Safe Harbour Coordinators from Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties; Parsons Child and Family Center; Samaritan Hospital; St. Anne's Institute; St. Peter's Crime Victim Services; Schenectady County Child Advocacy Center; START Child Advocacy Center; and Vanderheyden.
Other law enforcement partners in New York State: Brooklyn District Attorney's Office; Buffalo Police Department; Capital Region Crime Analysis Center; Erie County Sheriff's Office; and Glens Falls Police Department.
Federal, national and private partners: FBI; National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Indiana State Police; Clearview AI; Cash App and Square; LeadsOnline, LLC; LexisNexis; Meta; Penlink; Snapchat; SkopeNow; The Jensen Project; TikTok; Tim Tebow Foundation; Verizon; and Whooster.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services is home to the Missing Persons Clearinghouse and provides critical support to all facets of the state's criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.
The National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating better outcomes for missing, exploited, and trafficked children. By uniting elite investigators, law enforcement experts, and private-sector specialists, NCPTF provides real-time intelligence, cutting-edge technology, and expert-led investigative support to locate endangered children faster. But their mission goes beyond the search—they strengthen how communities respond, bridging gaps between agencies, identifying risk factors, and equipping frontline professionals with the tools to create lasting solutions. NCPTF exists because every missing child is endangered—and every second counts. Their mission is simple but urgent: Find. Listen. Help. For more information, visit ncptf.org.
Your support allows us to expand Missing Child Rescue Operations to new communities, provide critical resources, and accelerate investigations when every second counts. Our next rescue operation starts in less than 90 days.
