Multi-Agency Operation Unites Local, State, and Federal Partners to Locate and Help Missing and Exploited Youth in Northeast Florida
For Immediate Release: 6/18/2025
Jacksonville, FL – The National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF), in collaboration with more than 30 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and child protection partners, today announced the successful completion of its first-ever Northeast Florida Missing Child Rescue Operation. Over the course of the three-day operation, 23 missing and endangered juveniles were located, and investigative leads were developed in several additional cases.
The multi-agency operation involved intensive case review, investigative follow-up, and the application of advanced technology to rapidly locate children reported missing across Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Putnam, and Flagler Counties. Throughout the three-day effort, law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, social service providers, NGOs, and private partners collaborated to review cases, uncover leads, and develop trauma-informed strategies to help each child gain long-term safety and stability once recovered.
The Florida Department of Children and Families coordinated with advocacy organizations and local service providers to ensure that recovered children were met with trauma-informed care aimed at preventing future missing episodes. With support from individual donations and community partners, rescued youth were provided with hygiene supplies, food, and comfort items.
This effort brought together the full strength of local, state, and federal law enforcement alongside nonprofit organizations and private-sector experts to provide coordinated investigative support across six counties. By aligning efforts across jurisdictions and disciplines, the operation reinforced regional capacity to respond to missing child cases and laid the groundwork for a more unified, proactive safety net for vulnerable children in Northeast Florida.
This operation was made possible through the generous support of the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose partnership enabled the deployment of NCPTF and participating partners to Northeast Florida. Operation Light Shine hosted the operation along with the INTERCEPT Task Force. Additional support for the operation was provided by The Jensen Project, Block, Inc., WhoIsXML API, Snap, Inc., Clearview AI, Target, Meta, TikTok, Verizon, Thomson Reuters, The National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, Her Song, Northeast Florida Human Trafficking Coalition, Isaiah 117, Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force, UF Health, SMA Healthcare, Duval County SAFE Center, Open Doors, First In, See the Girl, K9s for Warriors, and Starbucks.
“Every missing child deserves a community that refuses to give up,” said Kevin Branzetti, CEO and Co-Founder of the National Child Protection Task Force. “In Northeast Florida, that’s exactly what happened. Law enforcement, social services, and community partners came together—not just to find, but to listen, and help. At NCPTF, we believe real change happens through collaboration, kindness, and relentless determination. This week, we didn’t just find missing children—we built trust, strengthened systems, and showed what’s possible when people put purpose over ego. The momentum we created here doesn’t end—it becomes a model for what every community can do.”
“One of our non-negotiables at the Tim Tebow Foundation is that there is power when we come together. We’re humbled to come alongside this incredible team of law enforcement, child protection agencies, experts, and partners to stand in the gap for these missing and vulnerable children,” shared Tim Tebow, founder and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “Our heart is to fight for the world’s Most Vulnerable People - the real MVPs - and we’re so encouraged that we were able to be a part of impacting these lives this week.”
"Hosting this operation at our INTERCEPT office wasn’t just an honor — it was a reflection of what’s possible when committed partners come together with one purpose: to protect kids,” added Operation Light Shine Chief Operating Officer, Bryan Weight. “This mission is deeply personal to us, and we’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those on the front lines across Northeast Florida. Together, we’re not just responding — we’re building a safer future for our children.”
“The missing child rescue operation showcased the steadfast partnership among local, state, and federal law enforcement, alongside our valued nonprofit partners,” added St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and Executive Board Chairman for INTERCEPT, Director Howard Cole. “We stood united in our pledge to every Northeast Florida parent. Our investigators and all personnel worked tirelessly, deploying every resource with urgency and compassion to safely recover their missing children.”
“We’re proud to work closely with our local, state and federal partners to not only help find missing children, but to restore hope,” a spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said. “There’s no greater responsibility than protecting our most vulnerable - our youth - and keeping our community safe. Operations like this demonstrate the powers of working in unified action, when we all come together for a shared purpose.”
Detailed results and further information on individual cases will be managed confidentially by respective law enforcement agencies to protect the privacy of the involved minors. As case work continues, additional rescues are expected throughout the region.
The National Child Protection Task Force is a nonprofit dedicated to creating better outcomes for missing, exploited, and trafficked children. By uniting elite investigators, law enforcement, 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. Our mission is urgent: Find. Listen. Help. For more information, visit www.ncptf.org.
The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Since inception in 2010, the ministry has served some of the world’s Most Vulnerable People across more than 100 countries and counting. This mission is fulfilled daily through ministry outreach focused on Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, Orphan Care + Prevention, Profound Medical Needs, and Special Needs Ministry. To learn more, visit www.timtebowfoundation.org. Through its support of NCPTF’s Missing Child Rescue Operations, the Foundation provides vital resources to rescue and restore hope for vulnerable children nationwide.
Operation Light Shine is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping law enforcement and frontline responders with the resources, intelligence, and technology needed to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. Through its flagship initiative—the INTERCEPT Task Force model—Operation Light Shine provides logistical and operational support, technical expertise, and survivor-centered training to strengthen systems of response across the country. For more information, visit www.operationlightshine.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.
