WCSO 2021 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 24
INTERNET SAFETY
AND
YOUTH
The internet is an invaluable resource and
has grown in necessity throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic. The digital world
has allowed work and studies to continue
remotely and enhanced everyone’s access
to information. However, reports to the
Sheriff’s Office illustrate the reality of
increased exposure to harmful content
and dangerous strangers focused on our
younger populations. Their access to online
viewing, social media, news streams, and
gaming platforms may increase potential
interactions with strangers, unintentional
sharing of personal information, or exposure
to explicit or violent content.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO)
Detectives diligently track online predators
who target underage internet users. Violent
Crimes Unit Detective Shannon Wilde is
assigned to investigate crimes, including
those involving children. Detective Wilde
and her counterparts often go undercover,
posing online as underage teenagers to
interact with possible predators. “Almost
every case that crosses our desks now has
some element of digital evidence,” she
explains, “any information we can glean
to stop this online behavior is essential to
protecting our youth.” Reports of this nature
also come from mandatory reporters and
community members through the Federal
Government’s Internet Crimes Against
Children (ICAC) reporting database.
The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ)
Criminal Justice Division manages the
state ICAC Task Force, comprised of WCSO
22 | WCSOOregon.org
detectives and other federal, state, and local
law enforcement representatives. This task
force encourages anyone with information
about a crime against children to submit
a cybertip through their online reporting
system. Cybertips include information on
child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene
materials sent to a child, child pornography,
online enticement of a child, etc. DOJ ICAC
Task Force Research Analyst, Melody Davila,
shares her insight on the recent increase of
reported cybertips, “I gathered stats from
the last three years, and we see a huge jump
from previous years to 2021. In Washington
County, the amount of cybertips has grown
from 31 cybertips received in 2019, 52 in
2020, and up to 206 in 2021. This increase is
the same across the state.”
Having investigated too many of these
internet crimes against children, Detective
Wild encourages parents to stay involved
with their kids’ online use, “Find a device or
app to monitor internet use and content.
Have regular conversations; know where
your kids go, who they talk to, and what
they do online. Above all else, create a safe
space for them to speak up when something
doesn’t feel right or if they experience
something inappropriate online.”
To learn more about how to create a safe
online experience for children in your
community, please visit:
bit.ly/WCSO_InternetSafety
