York County Child Abduction Response Effort (C.A.R.E)

03/20/2026

York County Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Bill James -- who spent 16 years with the CARE Team -- was honored this week by team members Dave Kahley, Mike Zinn and Amy Smith.

Most recently, Bill crafted and disseminated a wireless emergency alert that played a major role in assisting a search team with locating a missing teen.

After more than 27 years with the County of York, Bill is retiring at the end of this month. Although his role with the CARE Team may be diminished because of his retirement, we hope he will stay on the team in some capacity.

Bill, thank you for all of your knowledge, skills and time over the years!

03/11/2026

York County CARE Team locates missing teen early Sunday morning in East Manchester Township

A coordinated and diligent effort to find a missing teen in York County – along with a helpful tip from a resident – resulted in searchers locating the teen in the morning of Sunday, March 8.

To expedite the search for the missing 16-year-old, which began on Saturday, March 7, the York County Child Abduction Response Effort (CARE) Team was mobilized.

The CARE Team is a multi-agency, non-profit group consisting of members of law enforcement (municipal, county, state and federal), search and rescue, 911, emergency management, social services and others who assemble and collaborate to locate a child who is either abducted or missing. The team also handles other cases, including missing Alzheimer’s patients.

During the search, Pennsylvania State Police issued a missing endangered person advisory, stating “Police believe this person may be at special risk of harm or injury, or may be confused.”

Other CARE Team member agencies utilized drones, dogs and personnel to find the teen, at times over rugged terrain.
With the search extending into the later hours of Saturday night, the CARE Team requested that the York County Office of Emergency Management issue a Wireless Emergency Alert on the missing teen to cell phones within a 5-mile radius.

A resident who had received the WEA called York County 911, stating they had seen the teen earlier that night. The caller’s information confirmed what a search team believed -- that the teen was in a particular wooded area in East Manchester Township. Continuing their search in that area, they located the teen about 1 am Sunday.

“I thank God that the missing 16-year-old was safely found and cared for early Sunday morning,” said York County District Attorney Tim Barker. “A dangerous and urgent missing child situation like this demonstrates the great need for our CARE Team. I highly commend the members of our CARE Team for their extensive efforts to thoroughly serve and protect our children and community.”

Barker added, “Additionally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the individual who called 911 after seeing the Wireless Emergency Alert. Assistance from our community through contacting 911 with any observations and information is a critical part of protecting and finding missing children.”

03/08/2026

UPDATE, 12:55 am 3/8/26 -- Star has been successfully located. Thanks to everyone for their assistance in the search.

MISSING ENDANGERED PERSON -- If you have any information on Star Malave's whereabouts, please call 911 or York County Regional Police at 717-854-5571.

12/04/2025

York County OEM Deputy Director Bill James celebrated 15 years with the York County CARE Team today. Congrats Bill, and thank you for all of your contributions to the team!

In addition to Bill, several others celebrated milestones with the CARE Team:

Brandy Baugher - DA's Office Detective Bureau - 5 years
Clint Chlebowski - FBI - 5 years
Dave Godfrey - Sheriff's Office - 5 years
Kyle Hower - York City - 5 years
Beth Jacobs - West Manchester Twp - 5 years
Shane Kauffman - Sheriff's Office - 5 years
John Pavoncello - South Central S&R - 5 years
Tyler Stepanchick - PSP - 5 years
Corey Strine - Sheriff's Office - 5 years
Sarah Welsh - Sheriff's Office - 5 years
Dave Woodring - PA State Parole - 10 years

10/10/2025

So happy that our friend and CARE Team colleague Dave Godfrey is on the mend. He is a true hero.

Despite being shot numerous times at close range during the tragic event that took the lives of 3 local POLICE Officers,
Lt. Dave Godfrey WALKED into the the York County, PA Sheriff's Office K-9 Spaghetti Dinner today to a Heroes welcome and a standing ovation…Let me say it again…WALKED!! Honored to support my amazing community and be a part of this awesome event! Thank you to everyone who came out…The local support means the world! God Bless our POLICE! 💙🖤

09/22/2025

From the York County Sheriff's Office:

On Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, at approximately 2:00pm, Lieutenant David Godfrey assisted the Northern York County Regional Police Department with drone surveillance to locate a wanted individual in North Codorus Township. During the incident, Lt. Godfrey exchanged gunfire with the suspect and sustained critical injuries. He is currently recovering and is listed in satisfactory condition.

Lieutenant David Godfrey is a 24-year veteran of the York County Sheriffs Office. He has worked in numerous capacities throughout his career, most recently as our Special Operations Lieutenant which oversees the following: Drone Unit, K9 Unit, Community Services, Project Lifesaver and all social media platforms. He is a current “Master Trainer” through the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers and former handler of Captain K9 Dargo. In the 10 years of handling K9 Dargo, Lt. Godfrey responded to over 800 calls for service such as explosive detection, tracking missing persons/fugitives and conducting article searches. The K9 Unit also provided security for presidential details and high-profile dignitaries. Lt. Godfrey and K9 Dargo built a strong bond with the residents of York County through public demonstrations and by visiting numerous schools throughout York County.

Over the past 24 years, Lt. Godfrey has exhibited exemplary service and has made a lasting impact on our community. He has received numerous medals and awards that include, but are not limited to:

Distinguished Service Medal, Good Conduct Award, Commendable Service Award, Distinguished Public Service Award, Emergency Preparedness Award, Community Service Award and numerous letters of appreciation.

The York County Sheriff’s Office is deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community and across the Commonwealth. We also stand in solidarity with the Northern York County Regional Police Department who have also been affected by this tragedy. We thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

09/22/2025

From York County DA Tim Barker:

The Northern York County Regional Police Department (NYCRPD) and the York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), in partnership with the York County Safety Collab, have endorsed the Honor Their Service donation portal as the official platform to support the families of the three fallen officers, the injured NYCRPD officer, and the injured York County Sheriff’s Deputy.

This portal has been vetted and endorsed by both the NYCRPD and the YCSO to provide the community with a secure and transparent way to give. We strongly encourage anyone wishing to donate to use this official channel to ensure their generosity reaches the families who need it most. 100% of the proceeds donated will benefit the families and officers affected by this tragedy.
https://yorkcountysafetycollab.org/honortheirservice/

09/19/2025

The York County CARE Team members have two of our brothers in our hearts and on our minds -- fallen Northern York County Regional Police Det. Mark Baker and hospitalized York County Sheriff's Office Lt. David Godfrey.

Baker and Godfrey's heroic actions on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 ensured that others would live. They swore an oath to protect and serve and fulfilled it to its fullest extent.

Baker had been a member of the team since 2016; Godfrey, who heads up the sheriff's office K9 division, joined in 2020. Both men utilized their skills and talents in searches and exercises over the years, elevating the team to a higher level of competency.

Detective, we will miss you and keep you in our memories; and lieutenant, we are praying for a quick and full recovery.

08/12/2025

Earlier today, numerous York County law enforcement, emergency and search agencies joined forces to help locate a missing 3-year-old child in Jackson Township.

The child was last seen at 4:30 am and was located just before noon by police.

Any time this happens, it is a traumatic event; but certainly, one that ends with a child found conscious and breathing is one we always pray for.

Northern York County Regional Police had command of the incident and were assisted by the York County Sheriff's Office, York County Detectives, York County CARE Team, Search 93, York County 911, York County Office of Emergency Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police.

If you have any information regarding this missing child, you are asked to contact the Northern York County Regional Police Department at 717.467.TELL (8355) or [email protected]

07/29/2025

The York County CARE Team would like to thank the employees and leadership at Heritage Valley Federal Credit Union for their generous donation!

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, three members of the CARE Team -- York County Detective Lt. Jeffrey Rineer, County Detective Brandy Baugher and West York Borough Police Lt. Dave Kahley -- accepted a check for $1,110 at Heritage's corporate offices in Springettsbury Township.

Karla Koicuba, who handles marketing/business development for Heritage, said employees chose the CARE Team as a recipient of the credit union's "Casual for a Cause" program. The credit union then matched what employees donated.

The donation will assist the CARE Team in continuing its efforts as a non-profit group whose members assemble when a child is abducted, an autistic child is lost or a person with dementia wanders. The team's robust roster features members of York County, municipal, state and federal law enforcement, York County 911 and OEM, search and rescue and psychological and social services.

Pictured left-to-right are: Heritage VP of Operations Sabrina Jianniney, Heritage Compliance/Security Officer Kristina Rose, Baugher, Rineer, Koicuba, Kahley, Heritage Pres/CEO Mike Gutshall and Heritage SVP of Strategy & Technology Jeremy Sterner.

12/13/2024

On Thursday night, the York County District Attorney's Office - District Attorney Dave Sunday, along with the York County, PA Sheriff's Office, received a check for $75,000 from the Freemasons Zeredatha-White Rose Lodge No. 451 42nd Masonic District of Pennsylvania for the county 's next bloodhound, aptly named Mason.

Also in attendance were Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler and Commissioner Scott Burford.

The Masons took up the mantle of raising funds for bloodhound Prince's replacement -- who will retire in about two years -- earlier this year, according to Worshipful Master Mike Brouillette. The mission to provide the DA's office and its CARE Team (Child Abduction Response Effort) with a new bloodhound would be well worth it, even if only one life was saved by the use of the dog, Brouillette said.