Bedford County Sheriff's Office | News and Press Releases - 2007

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October 23, 2007
Press Release

Bolling Secures Funding for Fight Against Child Pornography and Internet Sexual Predators
Lieutenant Governor presents $95,000 check to expand the work of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia has awarded $95,000 to the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Bolling’s announcement came at a press conference in Bedford County on Friday afternoon.

“One of the core responsibilities of state government is keeping the people of Virginia safe from the threat of crime”, Lieutenant Governor Bolling said. “One of the most significant public safety challenges of our time is the dramatic increase we have seen in child pornography and Internet sexual predators. By helping expand the work of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, we can be more aggressive in our efforts to combat child pornography and do a better job keeping children safe on the Internet.”

The $95,000 grant was approved by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year in response to a budget amendment submitted by Senator Steve Newman and Delegate Lacy Putney at the request of Lieutenant Governor Bolling. The initiative was a part of Lieutenant Governor Bolling’s 2007 Legislative Agenda.

Attending the press conference with Lieutenant Governor Bolling were Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown, who was responsible for creating Virginia’s first task force to combat child pornography and Internet sexual predators – Project Blue Ridge Thunder. Also in attendance were representatives of law enforcement agencies in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Gloucester and Christiansburg, all of whom participate in the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Lieutenant Governor Bolling also encouraged parents to monitor their children’s Internet activity. “Parents need to know who their children are talking to on the Internet - in emails, instant messages and in Internet chat rooms”, Lieutenant Governor Bolling said. “Parents also need to know what Internet sites they are visiting. The threats that children face on the Internet cannot be overstated, and parents must become more involved in closely supervising their children’s Internet activity.”

Sheriff Brown expressed his appreciation for the interest Lieutenant Governor Bolling has shown in the work of Project Blue Ridge Thunder and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “This will go a long way in helping five of our affiliated agencies in assisting the Southern Virginia task force in taking the fight to the predators,” Brown said. “As long as children use the Internet, predators will seek to extort them.”