Today, a missing 6-week-old was found safe thanks to the collaboration between the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department (JFRD) and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).

“Since the beginning, my administration has invested heavily in our first responders, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and support to keep our community safe,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “This is a perfect example of inter-agency collaboration and the use of innovative tools to immediately find and rescue a missing infant.”

In 2023, Mayor Curry funded the County Watch Office and countywide emergency notification system. This system notified a JFRD firefighter as he was leaving his shift at Fire Station 71. In a happenstance, the firefighter noticed the man and missing infant in the Jacksonville Beach area. Since the man fit the description from the alert and had an infant, he notified JSO and Jacksonville Beach Police, who intercepted the man, and rescued the infant.

Every second counts when a person has been reported missing or has placed an emergency call. “The knowledge our departments have and continue to share with other organizations is lifesaving” said Sheriff T.K. Waters. “Thanks to this collaboration between our agencies, we were able to quickly locate and recover the missing infant.” The infant was returned safely to his family within 8 hours.
“I am incredibly proud of the County Watch Office personnel and Firefighter Hunter Parry for following his instincts. Thanks to Mayor Curry’s investment and our collaborative relationship with JSO, this family’s story has a happy ending,” said Fire Chief Keith Powers.