Volusia sheriff leads charge in war on Internet sexual preda
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  1. #1
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    Volusia sheriff leads charge in war on Internet sexual preda

    From News-JournalOnline.com

    Kelli Lee's children are now grown up, but she shudders to think that many young ones who use computers to access the Internet can easily be trapped by online sexual predators.

    But Lee of Deltona said she is happy to learn the Florida Sheriff's Association is taking the problem seriously and has launched an all-out campaign to catch people who try to exploit children.

    "I love it," Lee said. "There are so many kids home alone with parents who work, and these 'latch-key kids' are highly susceptible to falling prey to these sexual predators."

    Law enforcement agencies partnering with the Florida Sheriff's Association know that, which is why the association started carrying out online stings to catch sex offenders, said Sheriff Ben Johnson, president of the association.

    "The Internet makes the world so small that people are targeting children everywhere," Johnson said. "We are going to go wherever we can to get them off the streets."

    On Sept. 12, the Florida Sheriff's Association announced it was "declaring war on the online predator epidemic by sharing its Cyber Sexual Predator Initiative with any Florida law enforcement organizations that would like to implement this program in their communities."

    Six days earlier, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office announced it arrested 15 men in an undercover Internet sting in Volusia.

    "The sad thing is how quickly these offenders jumped on it," Johnson said. "It makes you wonder how many times they have gone out and made a victim."

    What was alarming about the sting was how willing the suspects were to accept offers of children for sex from detectives posing as parents.

    "How many parents have given up their children to be victims?" Johnson said. "That is why it is important to share our knowledge, experience and training with other law enforcement agencies to hunt these people down."

    Online sexual-predator stings are time-consuming and labor-intensive, but protecting against predators and preventing children from being victimized makes them worthwhile, said sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson.

    Most agencies don't have the expertise and staff resources to conduct these types of operations without outside assistance. And that's where the Florida Sheriff's Association initiative is helpful, Davidson said.

    "Additionally, it helps the participating agencies gain valuable experience and learn the best and most-effective practices for successfully investigating online sexual predators," Davidson said. "This is information, knowledge and experience that they can bring back and put to use within their agencies."

    The goal of the association to work with other agencies is comforting to Daytona Beach Shores resident Stewart Cruz, the father of 7- and 1-year-old sons.

    "I support that 100 percent," Cruz said. "I believe it is good to utilize taxpayers' money to protect people who cannot protect themselves, in this case, children."

    The sheriff's association, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida attorney general, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and many Florida school superintendents have also started an education initiative. This allows school-resource deputies to make presentations in schools, Davidson said.

    Sheriff Jeffrey Dawsy of Citrus County launched a cybersafety program in October 2010 that has already worked with 104,516 students in elementary, middle and high schools across 25 counties in Florida, according to a news release from the sheriff's association.

    Sheriff's association leaders believe educating children is critical to helping them combat the sexual predators who are attempting to lure kids through Internet chat rooms.

    Cruz agrees.

    "The more education you can give kids, the safer they will be," Cruz said. "If people in authoritative positions, like an officer, gives these talks or presentations, it will have more impact than when a parent talks to them about it."

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    Re: Volusia sheriff leads charge in war on Internet sexual p

    Sheriff Judd.......

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