Westchester Missing Child Rescue Operation Locates 43 Children and Teens

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.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) announced that 43 children and teens reported missing to police in Westchester County have been located through the Westchester Missing Child Rescue Operation. The operation, coordinated by the DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse 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 than 70 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners to provide critical investigative support to local police departments.

Why it matters

The operation highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, and private partners in addressing the issue of missing children and protecting vulnerable youth from exploitation and harm. It also underscores the ongoing efforts to locate and support children who have gone missing in Westchester County and across New York State.

The details

The three-day operation, which concluded on Thursday, convened public, nonprofit and private partners with the goal of exploring new leads, reviewing case notes, and leveraging technology to find children who are at risk of endangerment, exploitation and harm. The 43 children and teens ranged in age from 8 to 17 years old when they were reported missing. The Office of Children and Family Services coordinated with nonprofit organizations and victim assistance programs throughout the Downstate Region to assist the investigations and provide services and support for the children who were recovered.

  • The operation concluded on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • In 2025, a total of 10,629 children younger than 18 were reported missing to police across New York State, with 94% of them reported as runaways.

The players

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)

The state agency that coordinated the Westchester Missing Child Rescue Operation in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services and the National Child Protection Task Force.

Office of Children and Family Services

The state agency that coordinated with nonprofit organizations and victim assistance programs to assist the investigations and provide services and support for the children who were recovered.

National Child Protection Task Force

The organization that partnered with DCJS and the Office of Children and Family Services to leverage the experience, expertise and resources of more than 70 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners to support the operation.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace

The chief law enforcement officer in Westchester County who stated that the plight of missing and exploited children has always been a top priority.

914Cares

A Westchester County-based nonprofit that embedded with the National Child Protection Task Force throughout the week and provided new and gently used clothing, hygiene supplies, winter wear, comfort items, blankets, backpacks, shoes, and diapers for children located during the operation.

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What they’re saying

“Every missing child case represents a young person who deserves to be safe, supported and seen. This operation brought together an extraordinary group of law enforcement, nonprofit and private partners to share information, pursue new leads and connect children with the services they need. I am proud of the work led by our Missing Persons Clearinghouse, in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services and the National Child Protection Task Force, and grateful to every agency and organization that came together to help protect children and families here in Westchester County.”

— Rossana Rosado, DCJS Commissioner (Yonkers Times)

“As chief law enforcement officer in Westchester County, the plight of missing and exploited children has always been a top priority for me. Efforts like this week's operation help bring theoretical leads into the realm of the practical, giving our investigative partners the resources and expertise needed to solve their most challenging cases. Thanks to these collaborations, we are able to work together to more effectively protect children from harm and reunite them with their families and loved ones. I'm so proud of the work we are doing with our local and state government partners to keep children safe and look forward to working with them on future operations.”

— Susan Cacace, Westchester County District Attorney (Yonkers Times)

“We were proud to take part in this operation and to help locate missing children from our community. This effort shows the real impact of agencies working together to protect young people and support families.”

— Marcel Olifiers, City of Mount Vernon Police Chief (Yonkers Times)

“I am proud of the work that the team is doing to conduct such organized and focused work to find these at-risk youth.”

— Paul Oliva, Town of Mt. Pleasant Police Chief (Yonkers Times)

“The Yonkers Police Department is honored to have been part of this operation, which proved the power of concentrated, coordinated law enforcement efforts. By bringing together local, state, and federal partners with a singular focus, we were able to locate vulnerable children and teens who may have been at serious risk. This outcome underscores why missing-person investigations must remain a top priority. When agencies work side by side with purpose, lives are protected.”

— Christopher Sapienza, Yonkers Police Commissioner (Yonkers Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This operation highlights the critical importance of collaboration between law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, and private partners in addressing the issue of missing children and protecting vulnerable youth from exploitation and harm. It demonstrates the power of coordinated, focused efforts to locate and support children who have gone missing, and underscores the ongoing need for such initiatives to continue across New York State and beyond.