WASHINGTON –
National Guardsmen patrolling near LeDroit Park were approached by a concerned citizen reporting that their 14-year-old daughter was missing. The child had gone to the grocery store earlier in the evening and had not returned. The child's father explained that she did not have a cellphone on her because her trip was supposed to be brief. The service members immediately obtained a description of the missing child and disseminated a be on the lookout (BOLO) notification to fellow patrols operating in the area.
“It's a stressful feeling when you find out your child is missing. Especially in a city as large as DC,” said Spc. Aaron Malado. “I was glad that we were working with local police to help start looking for her.”
Several teams of service members began to search in the immediate area after alerting the Metro Police Department. The Soldiers continued to widen their patrols during the night. Eventually the 14-year-old girl was located by a second team four blocks away from her original destination.
“When we found her, she was pretty shaken up,” said Spc. Sean Robertson. “She had gone to her original destination but had gotten turned around and eventually lost due to it getting dark out.”
Upon locating the child, the Soldiers contacted the Metro Police Department and remained with her until an officer arrived on scene. The officer subsequently reunited the child with her father, bringing the incident to a safe conclusion. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance, communication, and coordination between National Guard personnel and local law enforcement. The service members' quick and immediate response combined with their continued presence helped ensure the child remained safe until she could be reunited with her family.
“Working with the Metro Police Department to help find the girl was great,” said Pfc. Soila Winter. “Between them being able to drive around and us conducting foot patrols, it allowed us to respond to this issue promptly and have a real positive impact on the situation.”
The successful outcome demonstrates the value of maintaining strong relationships with the community and local law enforcement partners while conducting patrol operations. Being present and available during such incidents enables continued support in keeping local communities safe.