FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office:

The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office has joined the Georgia ICAC Task Force.  Corporal Dan King and Detective Kirk Champion from the Criminal Investigations Division are the first two detectives to graduate the introduction to ICAC training by the GBI.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) program was developed in response to the exploitation of children and teenagers using the internet combined with the elevated online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.  The ICAC program brings national resources to the local and state law enforcement levels to combat online child victimization and child pornography.

This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education while developing an effective response to cyber enticement, child pornography and child sex trafficking.  Investigators will be trained and supported in proactive, as well as, reactive investigations.

Georgia ICAC has partnered with many federal, state, and local agencies, including the FBI, Secret Service, I.C.E., GA Attorney General’s Office as well as many others. These resources, along with the specialized equipment and training, will be available to Gilmer County at no extra local cost to the taxpayers.

Sheriff Nicholson stated, “In the law enforcement profession, there are an endless number of ‘specialty’ units.  I try not to get sidetracked with our main general objective UNTIL there’s a need. Unfortunately, there is a need for my detectives to be trained and equipped for internet child crimes.  We have recently seen this type of predator in our county. It’s here, so we are going to deal with it.”

Pictured L-R is Detective Kirk Champion, Corporal Dan King, and Sgt. Dustin Dover