Merrillan P.D. joins the Wisconsin ICAC
Couple of smaller stories to post first today, and then I have a nice though-provoking, philosophical editorial to share later…
First, if you live in Merrillan WI, you have something to be proud of: your police department has just joined the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force. This is excellent because you know cops in your area are part of the team that actively fights Internet predators. The press release with more information is below.
But as every cop will tell you, there are just too many of these guys. We aren’t going to arrest our way out of the problem. Parents, you still need to do your part from inside your home while the cops work on the streets. That’s where our PC Pandora 6.0 comes into play. With computer monitoring software, you will know exactly what your kids are doing online and who they are talking to and who is trying to talk to them.
March 10, 2010
Merrillan P.D. joins the Wisconsin task force
Merrillan (Press Release) – The Merrillan Police Department has joined the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
“We are pleased to have you as a member of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force and pledge our full support to you as we work together to make Wisconsin safer for our children,” said Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
As part of this affiliation, the Merrillan Police Department is eligible for:
Reimbursement to help fund ICAC related expenses, including computer hardware and software;
Notification of and priority for sought-after ICAC related training, offered both nationally and in Wisconsin;
Investigative assistance from highly trained ICAC investigators and forensic computer analysts throughout the state;
Access to the national ICAC email group;
Recognition on both the Merrillan Police Department’s website, and on the Wisconsin Department of Justice website.
“The Merrillan Police Department is proud to join forces with Attorney General Van Hollen to protect the children of our State,” said Merrillan Police Chief Thomas P. Cooper. “The Merrillan Police Department is committed to working with the Department of Justice and other local Law Enforcement Agencies in a Team effort to protect our children from on line predators. Predators are targeting children no matter where they live and the Merrillan Police will aggressively pursue those individuals seeking to cause harm to children.”
To learn more about the ICAC Task Force program at the Merrillan Police Department, contact Officer Jeffrey Hale at 715- 333-2332.
This year marks the 11th anniversary of the founding of the Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “In the past decade, Wisconsin’s ICAC Task Force and Affiliate Agencies have arrested 728 suspects, executed 1,017 search warrants, and rescued countless numbers of children throughout the state,” said Van Hollen.
According to Van Hollen, there are over 22,304 internet protocol addresses in Wisconsin containing and offering to distribute known images of child pornography. One in seven children are asked online to engage in sexual activities, sexual talk, or provide personal sexual information.
Van Hollen has placed a priority on law enforcement’s proactive response to the growing problem of internet crimes against children. To that end, Van Hollen has directed a 67% increase in the number of special agents assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force within the Division of Criminal Investigation.
In addition to expanding investigative capacity internally, Van Hollen and the Department of Justice have continued to add additional local affiliates to the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force. The number of local law enforcement partners to the Department of Justice’s ICAC Task Force has increased by more than five times to 134 since Attorney General Van Hollen took office. You can access a list of affiliates at the Department of Justice Web site.
“Let internet predators take note. Our commitment is unceasing. We will identify you, arrest you, and take you off the street; we will follow you to every area of the internet, no matter where you try to hide; and we will work together in law enforcement to stay one step ahead of you.” Said Van Hollen.
For more information on how your community can become an affiliate of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force contact Michelle Dubois at (608) 267-9093.