(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a shining example of law enforcement collaboration codenamed Operation Homecoming, a total of 32 missing children have been brought back to safety.
The operation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service in conjunction with local law enforcement.
It led to the recovery of 32 missing children in Ohio between August 19 and September 6.
This mission focused primarily on Akron and Summit County, with additional recoveries in Cleveland and one in Washington state.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Akron Police Department were key players in this operation.
The children, aged 13 to 18, were found in hazardous and abusive situations.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott praised the dedication of the Missing Child Unit and its partner agencies.
Elliott stated, “Dedicated work by our Missing Child Unit along with Akron Police and the Sheriff’s Office have made an incredible impact in the safe recovery of these children. The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to dedicate its time and resources to the safe recovery of missing children in our communities throughout northern Ohio.”
The operation spanned three weeks, beginning on August 19 and concluding on September 6.
Most children were found in the Cleveland and Akron areas, but efforts even extended to Washington state, where a child missing since April 2022 was recovered.
“I’m proud of the excellent work of my team and of our partner agencies in this very important operation. It is a great example of how collaboration makes us stronger and helps us to better serve and protect our community,” remarked Sheriff Fatheree.
Alongside the incredible rescue efforts, Deputy U.S. Marshal Vinny Piccoli highlighted the dangers some children faced.
“Guns, drugs, whatever the case may be, people that they’ve been hanging out with older males, older females, where there’s been trafficking involved, prostitution involved, so we’ve removed kids from situations like that,” Piccoli said.
Summit County Children’s Services also played a pivotal role, providing essential resources and support to the recovered children, particularly those who had been missing for extended periods.
According to the Global Slavery Index, over 1 million people in the U.S. live in modern slavery, encompassing human trafficking, labor exploitation, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic servitude, and criminal exploitation.
Authorities encourage the public to provide tips on wanted fugitives to the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, and anonymity is guaranteed.
“The partnership and devoted work by law enforcement in this operation directly led to the safe recovery of the missing child located across the country,” noted Akron Police Chief Brian Harding.
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