Internet crime task force awarded grant money
A $5,000 grant will help in the investigations of the task force.
Published Sept. 16, 2008
An undercover task force used to catch Internet predators received grant money to use in the investigation of Internet crimes.
The Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force was awarded $5,000 by the Boone Electric Community Trust, which is part of the Boone Electric Cooperative.
Detective Andy Anderson released the information about the grant Monday. In the release, it said the money would greatly assist the force in the investigation of Internet crimes against children and families in mid-Missouri. The money will also go toward helping to provide community presentations on Internet safety to parents, students, civic organizations and businesses.
The undercover task to catch Internet predators force has resulted in 36 arrests since 2007. Several police departments in mid-Missouri have teamed up to take more steps to stop Internet crimes.
Twenty departments in mid-Missouri, including MU Police Department and Columbia Police Department, have joined together to form the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force. The task force, which was founded in Jan. 2007, investigates Internet crimes, mainly involving children.
The task force serves a seven-county area conducting investigations and providing investigative and forensic services to area law enforcement.
Anderson coordinates the task force. He is a 22-year veteran of the Boone County Sheriff's Department and has been conducting Internet crimes investigations since 1999.
Anderson started working with the task force because after working with Internet crimes, he decided that there was not enough focus on them.
"In order to have a fighting chance against Internet crimes, they decided to work with other jurisdictions in mid-Missouri," Anderson said, because "suspects range all over."
The Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force has been responsible for arrests not only in Missouri, but also in Texas and Rhode Island. The members of the force have investigated 202 cases and have served 45 court-ordered search warrants, resulting in 36 arrests.