Volunteer Officer Helps Find Missing Child

Off-duty Toronto Police Auxiliary member Robert Liles was having dinner with his family when a helicopter repeatedly passed over their neighbourhood.

After learning from 22 Division that police were searching for a missing child, he left home to help.

Drawing on training Liles had received through the Auxiliary program, he and a family member conducted a grid search. They found the child within the first hour.

“We were privileged and fortunate enough to find the missing child,” said Liles, who volunteers his time as an Auxiliary officer. “It was definitely in the top five things I’ve done in my Auxiliary career.”

Colin Anderson, another Auxiliary member involved in the response, praised Liles decision to act on his night off.

“At a time when he easily could have stayed at home, he sacrificed his own time to help his community,” Anderson pointed out.

The search brought together police, volunteers, Auxiliary members and members of the public.

“It is gratifying to see this remarkable coordinated effort bring the search to a successful conclusion,” said Inspector Jeff Bangild. “The sense of relief that everybody has, and the smiles across people’s faces, knowing that every effort we put forward led to a successful outcome.”

For Liles, the experience reinforced why he volunteers.

“Being a part of the Auxiliary program is very rewarding,” he said. “I would encourage anyone out there who has an interest in policing, or even just an interest in improving the community, to consider joining and to do more research on it.”

Learn more about volunteering as an Auxliary Officer.