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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new program aims to better protect Sarpy County residents from the ever-evolving threat of cybercrime.
Three local organizations are teaming up to not only catch culprits and support victims, but to stop online crimes from happening in the first place.
The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Heartland Family Service to create a community response team. It will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the Department of Justice.
“Really a lot of the crime that we deal with, if we peel back the layers, have some cyber component. It’s a matter of us identifying that that is actual evidence that exists and knowing how to preserve that and obtain it in a sound manner that we can then present in court later as evidence,” said Lt. Kyle Percifield with Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office’s Investigations Division.
The money will be used to help the sheriff’s office purchase enhanced technology for processing digital evidence, creating cybercrime training for law enforcement, educating the public on cybercrime prevention, and supporting victims of cybercrime.
Lt. Percifield said in the last decade, his team has nearly tripled the number of devices processed in investigations. He’s hopeful the new partnership will give his team more resources to tackle the rapidly growing threat of cybercrimes.
“If it was one of your family members that was a victim of this, you’d want something done. I’m in a position, my unit is in a position, where we can actually do something about it,” said Lt. Percifield.
Dr. Kerry Ward, a UNO Associate Professor in Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, is one of the experts who will develop digital forensics training for law enforcement. Before getting into higher education, Dr. Ward was a police officer.
“Officers need to be aware of when there is a cyber component to a crime and if there is one, how to respond. In particular, how to maintain the chain of custody of any forensics evidence,” said Dr. Ward.
UNO will also help develop and administer community education to teach people how to avoid falling victim to cybercrime, and if they do, what actions they can take.
“The goals are to number one, help people be aware of these warning signs when they’re getting manipulated. And two, understand that while it may be embarrassing, it happens, and it happens to very smart people,” said Dr. Ward.
The grant will also allow Heartland Family Service to offer five free counseling sessions for cybercrime victims, plus resources for ongoing care, if needed.
“People feel very vulnerable, they feel very alone, they tend to isolate, they’re embarrassed and really don’t have a place to turn. So, we’re hoping through this grant we can provide those services and get them started on some counseling, back to healing,” said Jenny Stewart with Heartland Family Service.
HFS can also offer immediate care for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis at their new Crisis Stabilization and Resource Center in Papillion.
“They can voluntarily come in, be around people to support them, help them with some coping skills, and just offer some additional resources,” said Stewart, who is the director of the crisis center.
The grant will pay for the program for three years. Lt. Percifield said amid funding cuts in the federal government, the DOJ has assured them that their grant money is secure.
Sheriff Greg London said their relationships with both organizations are invaluable.
“This just validates what we do with our partners throughout the region. With UNO, this is our second big project we’ve worked on with them. Heartland Family Service, we’ve been with them since 2008 and they just make us more effective on serving the community,” said Sheriff London.
HFS also partners with the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office for a co-responder program, where deputies can ask a licensed mental health therapist to assist them on a mental health crisis call.
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