Little Rock, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A multi-day, multi-agency sweep led by Arkansas State Police (ASP) resulted in the recovery of eight missing and endangered children.
Dubbed “Operation HOPE,” the four-day initiative, which launched on Aug. 18, focused primarily on locating children missing from foster care or those in high-risk circumstances.
According to a press release from ASP, 10 active cases were pursued during the operation. Eight children were recovered or located safely, while two are still missing. Seven of the youth found were in the care of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), while two children from Coloardo were among those located.
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ASP said the cases involved various dangerous situations, including children missing from residential placements, an alleged child abduction, and indicators of possible human trafficking.
“Every missing child case demands an immediate, coordinated response,” said Sgt. Matt Foster, Arkansas Human Trafficking Coordinator. “Operation HOPE brought together the expertise and resources of law enforcement, child welfare professionals, and federal partners to locate vulnerable children… and ensure they receive the support they need once they are found.”
The operation builds on Arkansas’ VALOR initiative, which launched in January 2024, to better address missing child cases.
The release stated that since VALOR’s launch, the number of active cases involving individuals reported missing before the age of 18 in Arkansas has dropped from 184 to 80.
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