Mom and daughter awarded for finding missing person

Weatherford Police Department Investigations Division Commander Jason Hayes presented a citizenship award to Amber Smith and her daughter, Layla, for finding a missing person. The award was presented at the June 25 meeting of the Weatherford City Council.

Amber and Layla also received a “challenge coin,” which is an acknowledgment of hard work and dedication by the police department. 

Hayes told the council that on April 30, the Weatherford PD was looking for a missing person with diminished mental capacity. Weatherford PD and other first responders had been looking for the missing person all day, but to no avail. 

Smith had seen a social media post made by the Weatherford PD about the missing person and kept checking for updates. Smith then picked up Layla from school and set out to find the missing person. 

Smith had driven to Shirley Hall Middle School, which was near the location that first responders had been checking, to begin searching. They spotted the missing person in the tree line and called the police. 

Hayes thanked Smith and her daughter for reuniting the missing person with their family.

“Thanks to the selfless actions of Amber and Layla, the missing individual was found safe and unharmed,” Hayes said, “allowing the PD to reunite her with her family, a very concerned family.”

Hayes explained that the citizenship award can be given to any citizen who helps solve a crime, helps arrest an individual, or assists another citizen in an emergency.

Hayes thanked all of the citizens of Weatherford for their continued support for the police department.

“I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our citizens for their continued and unyielding support of our agency and our individual officers,” Hayes said. “What makes this city special is the ownership that the citizens take in collaborating with the police department in keeping our community safe.”

For more information about Weatherford city council meetings, visit www.weatherfordtx.gov