The Edmond Sun

Local News

March 21, 2009

Internet police to share in state stimulus

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Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — State and local efforts to combat Internet crimes against children are receiving a financial boost from the federal stimulus package.

Oklahoma is receiving $635,360 from a $50 million appropriation through the stimulus bill for Internet Crimes Against Children Initiatives.

Steve Tanner, agent in charge of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, said it is not known exactly when the stimulus money will arrive, and details about how it will be dispersed have not yet crystalized. However, it most likely will be used for equipment and manpower, Tanner said.

The state is part of a National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and there are 59 task forces nationwide.

Within Oklahoma, 44 agencies have entered into a written agreement with the state bureau to help investigate Internet crimes against children, Tanner said.

Edmond Detective Mark Oak said about three years ago, the Edmond Police Department was asked to be an affiliate of the OSBI’s task force.

Tanner said the OSBI provides free training and some computer equipment to task force members through grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice. Many times, requests for investigative assistance come through the task force coordinator and then the leads are passed on to the task force, he said.

“The OSBI exercises no control over the task force members — it is a true cooperative effort,” Tanner said.

Edmond Police Chief Bob Ricks supports the need for investigating Internet crimes against children, and Oak has done an excellent job, both as an investigator and as an educator, Tanner said.

Oak said he and fellow Edmond Detective Chris Cook have received extensive training the past two years. During the past year, they have been more aggressive in utilizing their training via undercover operations, investigating cyber tips and in educating the public, Oak said.

Edmond’s unit conducts undercover investigations involving the possession and distribution of child pornography, Oak said. Education efforts are aimed at social groups, schools and local organizations, he said.

Police emphasized the need for parents to communicate with their children.

Glynda Chu, Edmond Police Department spokeswoman, said parents teach their children about “stranger danger,” but sometimes that does not include the stranger lurking online.

“It is almost as if we can’t see them; we can’t see the danger, but the danger is there as we have sadly seen many times,” Chu said.

Chu said police urge parents to talk to their children from an early age about the potential dangers of giving out their personal information to someone online. Parents should know their child’s online friends just as they do their neighborhood and school friends, she said.

Oak said children should know that their parents are going to check what types of activities they are doing on their computer. Children also should tell a trusted adult if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or says something inappropriate to them while they are online, he said.

The most rewarding part of investigating Internet crimes against children is the idea that one day he may save a child from further abuse, Oak said.

In May 2006, Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation creating the OSBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit.

marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108

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