FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March, 25 2015
Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216
Clayton Police Department, Cibola County Sheriff’s Office & Union County Sheriff’s Office joined the New Mexico ICAC Task Force
Santa Fe, NM – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced three new Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Members – Clayton Police Department, Cibola County Sheriff’s Office and Union County Sheriff’s Office. With the new additions, there are now 77 ICAC affiliates in New Mexico ranging from the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations, to local police departments and sheriff’s offices around New Mexico.
“Today, our greatest risk is not the suspicious van driving around the playground or neighborhood, it’s the predators who get online to prey on New Mexico children,” said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “We only get one shot at protecting our children, so it’s vital that we leverage resources and work together with federal, state and local law enforcement to stop online predators. Additionally, I want to welcome and thank the Clayton Police Department, Cibola County Sheriff’s Office and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for joining the New Mexico Crimes Against Children Task Force.”
Current estimates from the New Mexico ICAC Task Force demonstrate that New Mexico has 8,000 leads of people trading child pornography. In 2014, there were 490 ICAC investigations which resulted in 98 arrests, 126 state prosecutions and 27 federal prosecutions in New Mexico. Most victims do not report the abuse, so that is why ICAC investigations are so important.
For more information on preventing or reporting abuse please visit www.missingkids.com or call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
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