Viroqua Police Department Receives Internet Crimes Against Children Award

VIROQUA Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen recently recognized the Viroqua Police Department for their work on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

Officer Emilee Nottestad was assigned as the ICAC affiliate contact for the Viroqua Police Department.  After receiving training in the techniques of conducting undercover ICAC investigations, Officer Nottestad put this training to good use and has facilitated three arrests based on her undercover chats with on-line predators.  The charges so far have included:

September 2008
Kevin A. Kreisel,
Attempt to Cause a Child to View Sexual Activity & Exposing a Child to Harmful Material

November 2008
Steven M. Wickert
Exposing a Child to Harmful Material & Attempt to Cause a Child to View/Listen to Sexual Activity & Possession of Child Pornography

April 2009
Brian J. Rautmann,
Causing a Child to View/Listen to Sexual Activity & Exposing a Child to Harmful Material/Narrations

"Officer Nottestad and the Viroqua Police Department have shown dedication in making these investigations a priority," said Van Hollen.  

The Viroqua Police Department joined the Wisconsin ICAC task force May 6, 2008, making Viroqua the 54^th member of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) program is another of the statewide enforcement programs whose goal is to make Wisconsin a safer place for our children.  The Wisconsin ICAC Task Force currently has 88 Wisconsin Law Enforcement partners and is growing. 

"I would like to congratulate the Viroqua Police Department for their support of the Internet Crimes Against Children program and the important work that they and other dedicated agencies and officers across Wisconsin have done to keep Wisconsin's children safe," said Van Hollen.

A picture of Officer Emily Nottestad accepting the award at this year's Missing Children and Adults Awareness Day Ceremony at the State Capitol