Operation Safe Return locates 37 missing children in Riverside County through coordinated law enforcement effort
Riverside County, California – California officials said that a coordinated operation by law enforcement in Riverside County has found dozens of missing youngsters who are now safe. During Operation Safe Return, a concerted effort to find some of the region’s most at-risk missing minors, state officials said that 37 children were discovered.
The operation brought together many groups, with the United States Marshals Service in charge and the California Department of Justice assisting. The detectives looked at cases in the National Crime Information Center database, which keeps track of missing people and other law enforcement notifications, as part of their work. Officials said that seven individuals were also arrested during the operation.
Governor Gavin Newsom stressed how important it is to keep kids safe from being used and make sure they go back to their family and communities safely.
“Every child deserves to be safe, protected, and given the chance to live their life free from exploitation. California will continue to stand with victims and survivors, protect our most vulnerable, and do everything in our power to bring every child home safely. I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to locate these missing children, support survivors of trafficking, and hold those responsible for harming our kids accountable,” Gov. Newsom said.
Attorney General Rob Bonta agreed with similar feelings and talked about how the operation was feasible because state and federal agencies worked together. Bonta said that finding missing children and bringing them home safely remains one of the most important things the police do. He stated the agencies need to keep working together to protect kids and hold criminals accountable.
A number of groups from the area and beyond took part in the effort. The Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation Department, California Highway Patrol, and Riverside County Department of Public Social Services all helped with the operation, along with federal and state authorities.
Officials also talked about the bigger problem of human trafficking, which typically targets those who are already in tough situations, like those who are poor or don’t have permanent housing. In Sacramento, Fresno, and San Diego, the California Department of Justice has specialized task teams that work to find trafficking networks, help victims, and go after those who are culpable.
Read also: Caltrain board approves corridor wide safety strategy to reduce track trespassing
State officials claim that these coordinated actions remain an important way to protect at-risk children and make sure that those who take advantage of them are punished.
