Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Rescue 22 Missing Children in Multi-Agency Operation Before the Holidays
FLORIDA — In a remarkable show of coordination and compassion, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, working with the FBI and U.S. Marshals, successfully rescued 22 missing children in a major multi-agency operation designed to reunite families ahead of the holidays.
The initiative, titled “Operation Home for the Holidays,” brought together local, state, and federal agencies, and resulted in the safe recovery of dozens of children who had been missing under various circumstances.
Operation Reunites Families Just in Time for the Holidays
Sheriff T.K. Waters announced the results earlier this week, confirming that all 22 children were found and returned home during the coordinated effort. The operation, which took place in early November, was led by the U.S. Marshals Service in partnership with Kash Patel’s FBI division and multiple regional law enforcement teams.
“Twenty-two children — that’s how many missing children our team located earlier this month,” Sheriff Waters said. “We worked alongside the Marshals, FBI, and other local partners to find missing children and bring them home.”
A Year-Round Commitment to Finding the Missing
The sheriff credited his department’s Missing Persons Unit, which operates year-round to locate missing youth, no matter how long they’ve been gone.
“It doesn’t matter if they’ve been missing for an hour or a year — we won’t stop until we find them,” Waters emphasized. “Our detectives work tirelessly to make sure every child is accounted for and every family gets closure.”
Officials said many of the children were recovered from situations involving runaways, custody disputes, and endangered youth cases.
National Agencies and Local Officers Join Forces
“Operation Home for the Holidays” was part of a broader national push by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service to find missing children before the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Each case required coordination between federal agents, local police departments, and social services organizations to ensure the children’s safety after recovery.
Sheriff Waters said his department is proud to be part of a nationwide effort that combines resources and compassion. “Operations like this don’t just happen overnight — they take teamwork and heart,” he said. “Our officers are committed to reuniting families and protecting our most vulnerable.”
Public Praise for Jacksonville Officers
The success of the operation has drawn widespread praise from across Florida. Community members have applauded Sheriff Waters and his team for their persistence, describing the operation as an act of “holiday heroism.”
“HUGE props to Sheriff T.K. Waters. His officers are crushing it right now,” one social media post read.
Many residents have also thanked the agencies for prioritizing child safety, particularly at a time of year when families are gathering together.
Continuing the Mission Beyond the Holidays
While the operation has ended, Sheriff Waters said his department’s work is far from over. The Missing Persons Unit will continue investigating active cases and assisting in long-term recovery missions.
“This is not a one-time event,” Waters said. “Our mission continues every day. We’ll never stop searching for missing children — not until every last one is found.”
Residents can learn more about Jacksonville’s child recovery initiatives or submit information on missing persons through the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office website.
Readers wishing to commend these officers or share messages of support for the rescued families can visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
