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Children Fingerprinted, Lifesavers Celebrated At Florida Missing Children's Day

fingerprinting station
Jessica Palombo
/
WFSU News

This morning, Florida officials recognized the 16th annual Missing Children’s Day at the state Capitol. Last year, Florida law enforcement officers received more than 35,000 missing-child reports.

Before the formal ceremony, Tallahassee school kids lined up under a tent to get fingerprinted. Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers sent the prints home so parents will have ID handy if their kids go missing. Myra Sutton Uribe brought her 10-year-old daughter, Faith. She says they traveled all the way from Orlando not just to get printed but to celebrate the heroes who’ve saved kids over the past year.  

“It’s just amazing, I mean, I think it’s just great, and I just hope we never have to be in that situation," she says.

Several awards went to law enforcement officers from across the state. And one went to a Louisiana convenience store clerk who recognized a Florida victim and her abductor from an Amber Alert and led police to their location.

Families of several missing and murdered children also attended to remember their loved ones.