PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — This week, we have seen an alarming number of child predators arrested.
Is that because there are more cases out there, or is law enforcement getting better at catching these criminals?
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers credits that success largely to social media sites and app developers, that are helping to weed out bad actors.
“A lot of these platforms have really complied, not just with our requests for subpoenas, but really been somewhat voluntary with us,” he told CBS12 News. “These companies have worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide information tips are leading us directly to the perpetrators.”
Callahan Walsh at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) says those tips are vital to cracking cases, and he says reporting is happening more than ever.
“I think what’s behind increase in the busts is great reporting and great action taken by law enforcement…the reporting systems are better, social media platforms are making it easier for people to report,” Walsh opined. “Last year, we received over 36 million reports to our CyberTipline, and we’ve already seen numbers surpass that this year.”
In St. Lucie County, deputies arrested a man this week for possessing child porn.
An employee at T-Mobile tipped off the sheriff’s office, after he saw the disturbing images on the suspect’s phone.
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Sheriff Keith Pearson says observant communities are crucial to catching these criminals.
“See something, say something,” he said. “(it) helps us to be able to identify these sick people, and get them out of our community.”
Its not only people speaking up that’s making a difference, but also teaching children about online safety.
“We believe prevention is working, kids are becoming more savvy would-be predators (are) trying to prey on children, and kids saying ‘no,’ Walsh explained. “This is why online safety has to be a conversation that we’re all having with your kids.”
If you know of anyone that has been victimized by a suspected child predator or is illegally possessing child porn, contact the NCMEC here.
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