Services Provided By The CRCIPTF

©2009 CRCIPTF

The CRCIPTF gives presentations to schools, church groups, civic organizations, parent groups, businesses, and many others to include information booths at community days, conferences, and other organized events.  Our presentations can be custom tailored to fit the needs of any group or organization and are conducted free of charge.  We can cover subjects from Internet safety, social networking sites, consequences of on-line behavior, and what to do if you think your child is being exposed to harmful materials or a harmful Internet “relationship”.  The CRCIPTF is a non-profit group who relies on grants and donations to provide our members with training and equipment needed to conduct these presentations and investigations.

The CRCIPTF is comprised mainly of active Law Enforcement Officers.  Our group has Officers from many local agencies and work together on both proactive and reactive Internet Crimes Against Children.  Officer Sedevie (HPD), Officer Carley (CPD), Sgt. Moren & Inv. Mahairas (LCPD), Officer Neitzke (SPD), and Officer Randall (WSPD) have all received extensive specialized training in conducting on-line investigations focusing on chatrooms and other on-line communities.  Through these types of investigations, our group has arrested multiple Internet Predators which resulted in convictions.  We also reactively investigate Internet Crimes Against Children which are reported to us from other sources such as parents, roommates, other Law Enforcement Agencies, and community members.

The CRCIPTF is fortunate to have two members trained in Computer Forensics.  Asst. Chief Miller (OPD) and Sgt. Blokhuis (LCPD) have both received extensive training in computer forensics.  With this training and using specialized equipment, we are able to examine and analyze computer hardware for evidence of criminal activity.  In the past, our  agencies would have to either call in a member of the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to assist on a warrant or send seized hardware to the State Crime Lab.  With caseloads and backlogs, this could take months or even years to have an analysis completed.  We are now able to accomplish this task on-scene for initial charging, while performing more in-depth examinations in our respective labs.  After receiving a very generous donation from a local couple in 2009, we were also able to purchase equipment to retrieve information from cell phones.  

We are proud to have members on our Task Force from agencies such as the La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Probation & Parole.  These members are instrumental in the charging/ prosecution of suspects as well as post-conviction supervision.  Members from the La Crosse County Human Services Department and Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center provide support for the physical and emotional needs of child victims.  They also assist our Officers with interviewing and intervention with children who may reside in a household where a suspect of Internet Crimes Against Children may reside.