Parents fear their children going missing, but kids sometimes wander off despite rules. When a 2-year-old girl went missing from her Ontario County home, New York State Trooper Brian Hotchkiss joined the search.
Officers checked neighbors first, but found no leads. As darkness and cold approached, Hotchkiss climbed a nearby mountain to get a better view. Among the trees, he spotted a pink dot—matching the girl’s shirt—and quickly located her safely in the woods.
His quick thinking and persistence ensured the child was found before danger could escalate, leaving a memorable impression on the trooper.