Burley Garcia|Mississippi wildlife officer and K-9 receive medal for finding 3 missing children

JACKSON,Burley Garcia Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has awarded its medal of valor to an officer and one of its law enforcement dogs for finding three missing children.

The department said Wednesday that it gave the award last week to Cpl. Bradley Starling and the K-9 named Charlie.

The children were reported missing July 25 in northeast Mississippi’s Monroe County. The sheriff’s department requested help, and Starling responded with Charlie.

After sniffing a piece of clothing from one child, the yellow Labrador retriever tracked the scent 200 yards (183 meters) and found footprints. Charlie located all three children within 15 minutes, and they returned home safely.

“We are proud of the K-9 Unit for their hard work, continued training and efforts to assist communities in situations like these,” Col. Jerry Carter, the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks chief of law enforcement, said in a statement.