CBN News. Wednesday, February 15, 2012

At any given moment, experts believe tens of thousands of sexual predators are surfing online.

At the same time, only about 1,000 investigators are going after them. However, there’s a new program aimed at taking the bad guys off the Internet.

The traditional tools of policing, a car and a weapon, are no longer adequate for the new crimes that have come with new technology.

Today’s sexual predators merely have to go online for a few minutes to find a young victim.

“It used to be they would be guarded in their conversations in words they would use in starting to talk with a potential victim,” Bedford County, Va. Sheriff Mike Brown, said.

Brown oversees these cases in his jurisdiction and nationally as the founder of the Safe Surfin’ Foundation.

He said predators have changed over the years, becoming bolder and more sophisticated in their pursuit of children.

“There’s so many ways that they can mask their identity,” he explained.

That’s why the Brown’s foundation and the Moose International are underwriting a program that will donate computers to investigators around the country working with the Department of Justice.

“A lot of the departments have someone with the technical knowledge. They just don’t have the equipment,” he explained.

“So what we’re doing is providing the equipment to them, donating it free of charge,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have, as we say, more boots on the ground.”

Or literally, more eyes on more screens to begin to bring justice to this 21st century crime.

Parents learn dangers of the web: wwlp.com

“This isn’t a job that the police can do by themselves, this is a parenting issue and parents have to get involved,” said Ronald Porter of the Safe Surfin Foundation.

There are more than 40,000 chat rooms where children can meet predators. “Education of the children turns out to be the way for them to recognize when predators are after them and to get out of that facebook situation or get out of any of those areas that they get in,” said Porter.

Kids are starting to use the computer and internet at even younger ages and it’s impossible to know for sure who’s on the other side of the computer.

Teresa Oxley is a parent in Springfield she said, “It’s scary out there sometimes you never know what or who’s going to see what you’re doing, so you always have to be prepared to watch your children and make sure they’re safe when they are on the internet.”

Teresa makes sure that her daughter Alyssa is aware that there are predators out there and she’s passing that message on. “I would tell them to be sure who they’re talking to and stuff,” said Alyssa Oxley.

It’s not just on the computer either, parents sometimes forget about other forms of sending information.  “[Parents] buy [their kids] really great cell phone and say here’s your new cell phone and what they’re not always cognizant of is that the cell phone is a computer, said Lt. Katie Collins Kalbaugh of the Chicopee Fire Department.

Ronald from SafeSurfin.org tells parents to make sure kids know to never give identifying information like a full name or address. Also, he reminds people that filters and passwords are not foolproof… there are ways kids can get around them, so education is always key.

“So many victims, so many sexual predators, so few investigators,” said Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown, during a news conference at the state capitol.

As the leader of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce, Sheriff Brown knows just how bad Virginia’s problem of child sexual predators is.

“Once you see it, you never forget it. It’s etched on your brain,” Brown said. “These sexual predators, they try to best each other by trying to put out the most graphic images that you can imagine.”

The sheriff, along with Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), State Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Bath County), and other state leaders are unified for the cause. They want the additional money for the ICAC program to be used to help cut down on the three-to-six month backlog of computer evidence.

“That means evidence is sitting there for months before it reaches the hands of investigators,” said Cuccinelli.

ICAC investigators have made nearly 300 arrests in sexual predator cases, in the past three years.

Deeds got a bill passed in 2010 that added a $10 fine for every image predators are convicted for. The ICAC budget is $1.8 million per year, but this past fiscal year, convictions generated $2.45 million. The extra $650,000 dollars will go back to the general fund this year.

The group on Tuesday voiced support for Deed’s new bill. It would redirect all money from ICAC convictions, back into the program.

“The reality is we’ve just scratched the surface with child sexual abuse,” said Sen. Deeds. “There are people in our communities, in every community of the Commonwealth where this is going on and we can’t rest until we wipe it out.”

Because the program is now generating revenue, if the bill passes, Deeds tells us ICAC divisions will be able to continue putting more child predators behind bars. The extra money would go towards hiring more investigators, computer forensic technicians, and marketing to community awareness.

Extreme athlete Tom Jones received national recognition when he paddle boarded from Key West to New York City….now he is coming to SML to paddle board around the 530 mile perimeter!

Haven’t heard of Paddle Boarding?  Well, I promise this summer you will as the Safe Surfin’ Foundation is bringing Tom Jones to do the impossible in order to raise awareness for Internet safety for our children.

Each day, Tom will stand-up paddle board the complete 530 mile perimeter of the lake.  During his journey, fundraising programs and events will be scheduled around the area.  Family events, water activities, concerts and celebrity programs will be scheduled all month long!

Do you want to help?  Contact Joey Beckham at 434-444-6635 to find out how you and your company can get involved and help Safe Surfin’ in a BIG way!

Safe Surfin’ Foundation Donates Cop-In-A-Box Program to Local Law Enforcement

88,000,000 children have access to the Internet and the sexual predators who target children know this. The number of law enforcement officers watching over our children’s Internet activity is so small they cannot begin to stop or even to slow these relentless sexual predators’ horrendous attacks on our innocent and unsuspecting children.

The Safe Surfin’ Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, together with its supporting partner – the Moose International fraternal organization, has led the nation in the creation and dissemination of free Internet safety educational programs for children.

Now, the Safe Surfin’ team is launching an exciting new initiative aimed at improving the drastically out of balance ratio of police Internet crime investigators vs. Internet sexual predators.

Sheriff Mike Brown of Bedford County Virginia and Chairman of Safe Surfin’ Foundation explains, “Safe Surfin’ is deeply concerned about how budget cuts are affecting Internet safety programs around the country, even as cases against online predators increase. Safe Surfin’ has developed a new law enforcement tool called ‘Cop-in-a-Box’ to offer a cost-effective way of protecting our children in times of economic stress.”

A ‘Cop-in-a-Box’ is just that; a trained police officer with the knowledge and equipment to apprehend and remove sexual predators targeting our children on the Internet.  This new initiative is aimed at improving the drastically ‘out of balance ratio’ of police versus Internet sexual predators.

“As police budgets all across America are shrinking; child predators on the web are increasing. This high tech world of cyber crime requires specialized equipment, dedicated resources, intensive training and committed investigators.  We will provide those resources to protect children at any cost,” Brown concluded.

Qualifying selected agencies who are affiliated with a Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force can receive a “Cop in a Box” which contains sufficient hardware, software, and access to specialized training for one ICAC Investigator.

Our motto: So many victims, so many predators, so few investigators!

For More Information Please Contact Jason Campbell @ 434-851-5584.

“All of these stories Safe Surfin’ have produced as PSA’s are tremendously difficult to record.  Danielle’s testimony was emotionally heartbreaking for the entire crew but demonstrated her deepest desire to educate her peers,” Sheriff Mike Brown said about the production.

Danielle,15, was last seen near her her home in rural Virginia.  The last contact her family had with her before being abducted was noticing her walking down her driveway talking on her cell phone.  On that particular walk, Danielle was met at the end of the driveway by Edward Bracken and Regina Powell who forced her into a pick-up truck at knife point. She was abducted and held hostage until police rescued her in Pittsburgh, PA.

Danielle’s story is a bit different.  Sheriff Brown explains, “This was not a typical online abduction that we see so often with child predators.  This abduction occurred by the use of cell phone and the new technology allowing kids to chat via these new smart phones.”  Danielle was actually talking to her assailant the night she disappeared walking to the end of her driveway.

Danielle had been texting and chatting with whom she believed to be a 16 year-old boy through her cell phone for several weeks.  She felt the relationship was innocent and frequently chatted via her phone to the boy about normal teenage troubles.   Edward Bracken, 38, was the man disguised as the boy that drove over 400 miles from his home in Pittsburgh to abduct her.

“We can’t just focus on Internet safety now.  Technology is changing and child predators are always looking for new ways to hurt children,” Brown stated.  Danielle’s story is a wake-up call for all parents to begin monitoring their children’s cell phone and stresses the importance of parental involvement.

“Danielle is lucky.  And we are so proud of her and her family for sharing this terrible experience in order to educate more and more young people.  We are thankful that Danielle wants to share her story,” Brown concluded.

Danielle Wade will become part of Safe Surfin’s Educational Program.  Should you like to have Danielle visit you school, church or community group please contact Jason Campbell, SSF Executive Director at JPCampbell70@msn.com.

The new application, named “The SSF Sex-Offender ALERT,” will alert parents when their child is traveling near the residence of someone in the National Sex Offender Registry. Parents and guardians will be at ease, knowing that they will be sent a text message, e-mail or even called if a threat is detected. Once alerted, the child must put in a “Safe Code” to confirm his/her safety with the parent.

Both the child and the parent will immediately know if a potential predator is nearby. The child’s phone will vibrate and display the address and picture, if available, of the registered offender. The alert will also show an overhead view of the child’s location and the location of the offender’s home. The child’s phone will lock until the “Safe Code” is put in.

An icon will also immediately appear that will allow the child to instantly notify a parent or law enforcement if he/she feels they are in danger. Parents will also be able to do a search of an area to determine the risk of somewhere they are traveling to.

The application will be constantly updated to remain current with the National Sex Offender Registry.

“This application is a great tool for parents and guardians, and it’s only possible because of SSF’s generous supporters who trusted us to make a difference,” said Jason Campbell, Executive-Director of SSF.

Safe Surfin’ Foundation Equips Law Enforcement With Tools Necessary to Battle Against Sexual Predators!

88,000,000 CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET and the sexual predators who target children know this.  The number of law enforcement officers watching over our children’s Internet activity is so small that Safe Surfin’ and Sheriff Mike Brown decided to help.

Sheriff Brown explains, “Safe Surfin’ is deeply concerned about how budget cuts are affecting Internet safety programs around the country, even as cases against online predators increase. Safe Surfin’ is developing a new law enforcement tool called “Cop-in-a-Box” to offer a cost-effective way of protecting our children in times of economic stress.”

A ‘Cop-in-a-Box’ is just that; a trained police officer with the knowledge and equipment to apprehend and remove sexual predators targeting our children on the Internet.  The Safe Surfin’ Foundation and its supporting partner, Moose International, is now launching this exciting new initiative aimed at improving the drastically ‘out of balance ratio’ of police versus Internet sexual predators.

Safe Surfin’ Foundation will provide funding, hardware, software and a proven training curriculum for agencies affiliated with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICCAC).

“As police budgets all across America are shrinking; child predators on the web are increasing. This high tech world of cyber crime requires specialized equipment, dedicated resources, intensive training and committed investigators.  We will provide those resources to protect children at any cost,” Brown concluded.

For information on how your locality to obtain a ‘Cop-in-a-Box’ program, please E-mail Jason Campbell at Jpcampbell70@msn.com.

Taking the time to read and sign this Online Safety Contract will directly impact the life of your child and the children of your loved ones. Current studies show that 1 in 7 children will be solicited for sex online. Your child is worth making the simple commitments below. Please electronically sign this contract today.

Sheriff Michael J. Brown

Bedford County, VA

Chairman, Safe Surfin’ Foundation

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SAFE SURFIN’ ONLINE SAFETY CONTRACT

I PLEDGE to make the following commitments in my home to protect my child and those in my community, declaring them to be a required act for parents, grandparents and guardians who love their children:

I WILL DISCUSS with my child our family’s clear rules and guidelines for Internet use.

I WILL USE available resources to learn how to protect my child.

I WILL MAINTAIN a dialogue with my child about what they are doing on the Internet.

I WILL KNOW who my child is communicating with on the Internet and what is being discussed.

I WILL TEACH my child to never give out personal information online and to safely use the Internet.

I WILL CONTACT law enforcement if I ever suspect that my child is in danger.