Seymour Police Department Joins The Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

SEYMOUR - The Seymour 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 Seymour 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 national ICAC email group;
• Recognition on both the Seymour Police Department's website, and on the Wisconsin Department of Justice website;

"The Seymour Police Department is very proud to have this educational and law enforcement networking opportunity," said Chief Buntrock of the Seymour Police Department. "Our Officer Travis Linskens has received preliminary training that will enable our Department to investigate cellular and internet crimes. He will be training Officer Kyle Kubacki to learn these procedures as well."

"In addition, we will be providing "Smartz" training for the public," said Buntrock. "Smartz training will provide parents and children information about these issues, along with training for children to engage and enhance their abilities to recognize and avoid potential dangers and empower our children with the confidence to make safer choices online and in the real world. I see a fabulous benefit for the parents and children to identify family online rules, exchange information between the parents and children and prevent online predators from seducing our children."

"Another component of this program was $1,500.00 in funding from the Department of Justice that allowed us to buy a very much needed computer with no expense to the community tax roll," said Buntrock. "Our Department's priority is to protect the communities' safety and security. This tool will allow us to provide our community education and investigative tools with the use of national resources."

If you have information about a person in Seymour that is falling victim to a child predator or would like more information about this program, please contact Chief Richard A. Buntrock at 920-833-2366 at the Seymour Police Department.

This year marks the 10th 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 540 suspects, executed 647 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. Van Hollen's 2009-11 budget request for the Department of Justice includes a request for five additional special agents and criminal analysts to protect our children from sex predators who utilize the Internet to prey on children.

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 more than doubled to 79 in the past year. You can access a list of affiliates.

For more information on how your community can become an affiliate of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force contact Craig Klyve at (608) 266-1221, klyvecs@doj.state.wi.us or Kris Midthun at (715) 839-3831, midthunkm@doj.state.wi.us.