Van Buren County Deputy Eric Calhoun and K-9 partner, Kuno honored in Washington D.C. by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

1ST OF A KIND HONOR… Van Buren County Deputy Eric Calhoun and Kuno (K-9 partner now retired) were honored in Washington D.C. by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). They were awarded the prestigious Hope Award at the 2025 Hope Gala held at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery on September 18. The evening celebrated powerful stories and the impact of a community united by a single mission: a safer childhood for every child. The night began with a first-of-its-kind honoree: a four-legged champion for children, Kuno the K9. During his seven years with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department, Kuno and Deputy Calhoun safely located five missing children. Though he retired in 2024, NCMEC proudly recognized Kuno and Deputy Calhoun for their extraordinary ability to find children.

(Photo from NCMEC Blog)