A Mississippi wildlife officer and his K-9 partner were honored for their lifesaving efforts in locating three missing children.

Cpl. Bradley Starling of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and his K-9 partner, Charlie, have been awarded the Medal of Valor for their lifesaving efforts in locating three missing children in Monroe County. The Medal of Valor is MDWFP’s highest honor, given for exceptional bravery and courage in protecting human life.

On July 25, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Cpl. Starling and K-9 Charlie after three children had gone missing from their home for approximately two hours. Arriving at the scene at 4:15 p.m., Cpl. Starling provided K-9 Charlie with an article of clothing from one of the children, allowing the dog to quickly pick up their scent.

Within 15 minutes, after tracking 200 yards and finding footprints, K-9 Charlie successfully located all three children, who were safely returned to their home.

The MDWFP’s K-9 Unit, consisting of four dogs, specializes in wildlife detection and search-and-rescue operations across Mississippi. Col. Jerry Carter, Chief of Law Enforcement, praised the unit’s efforts, saying, “We are proud of the K-9 Unit for their hard work and continued training. Congratulations to Cpl. Starling and K-9 Charlie for this outstanding achievement.”