“It happened right in the bathroom of their own home,” said Sgt. Wade Williams of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Bureau and Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force. Parents “would not let a person off the street into their home, but they do [exactly that] when they let a child have a device without any restrictions.”

Williams said he has seen local children as young as 6 become a victim online. “Younger kids are not able to command operation of social media, but they [are able to] post videos on YouTube,” he explained.

For tweens, Williams tells the story of an 11-year-old from Naples who was befriended by an adult man in Missouri, who wanted her to travel by bus to meet him. Fortunately, he was identified and caught before the girl left Naples. Williams has story after story like these of Collier County children, and says it all begins at home. “The number one place of self-produced videos by the child is in the safety of their [own] bedroom or bathroom,” he said.

Children becoming social media victims goes beyond predators stalking the internet. Williams said the most significant threat can be a child’s peers who gain access to videos or photos and post them or bully the victim with the threat of posting something.

Three Things Parents Can Do

While this is alarming for any parent, there are steps you can take to keep your kid safe. According to Williams, the most effective actions a parent can take are:

• Prohibit all electronic devices in a child’s room at night, or ever in the bathroom. “There is no reason a child needs a device at 2 a.m. in their bedroom or in the bathroom,” he stressed.

• Set up parental controls on all devices. “Nothing is 100%, but there are parental devices that do a lot. Some of them are free; some of them cost $6 a month.”

• Talk to your kids. “The first conversation should not be on a device, it should be with your kid,” Williams said. “It should be with the parent, not with a predator.”

Digital citizenship

Technology teachers in Collier County Public Schools begin teaching internet safety in kindergarten. “It is to put the foundation in place so our students are safe online,” said Lindy George, TSA (teacher on special assignment), digital innovation/STEAM specialist with CCPS. “We try to give them a very well rounded education in digital citizenship.”

Students are taught how to avoid cyberbullying, and how to leave a positive digital footprint. Teachers focus on what is safe to do online, rather than overwhelm students with a multitude of rules about what not to do, George said. Students also are taught how to find reliable websites. “The challenge is [that] there is overwhelming information on the internet. They need to learn what is relevant and accurate,” added Jonathan Woofter, coordinator of professional learning and instructional innovation at CCPS.

Teachers stress the importance of each child’s digital footprint. “Once you put it online, you just can’t delete it,” George said. “What is that persona you want to create online? Don’t post anything you are not proud of.”

In 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 16.9 million cyber tips on the exploitation of children. That same year CCSO worked hundreds of cyber tips that included suspects exploiting local children. CCSO says many more go unreported. Most child victims are exploited on an electronic device that was provided by their parents, in the safety of their own home – many times when their parents were in the next room. Officers recommend parents check their child’s device, read messages, and view web activity at least once a week.

The experts also offered the following advice for parents to share with your kids:

• Make all accounts private.

• Never meet someone in real life whom you met online.

• Don’t accept any “friends” or followers that you don’t know in real life.

• Never share personal problems online; bad people can use these against you.

• Never share your passwords with anyone, except your parents, even if you think it is one of your friends, as accounts can be hacked.

• Never share personal information such as your birthdate, phone number, school name, or address with anyone online without parental approval.

• Don’t create or send any inappropriate images or videos of yourself; they can be used to threaten or bully you.

• Tell a trusted adult, like a parent, relative, counselor, or police officer, if anything inappropriate happens online, such as things that you think are wrong or that make you feel sad or scared.

CCSO advises that if you believe your child is a victim of internet exploitation, take their devices immediately, prohibit all access to any electronic devices, and immediately make a report to law enforcement.

The post Want to Keep Your Kids Safe Online? Read Our Top 3 Tips. appeared first on SWFL Family.

“Autism doesn’t have the physical indicators other conditions do,” said Sgt. Dan McDonald of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, who trains deputies on how to recognize signs of autism. “Kids with autism may have an aversion to bright lights, loud sounds, and groups of people they are unfamiliar with, and that can be a stressful situation for them.” Those with autism might not respond to commands or questions and may have difficulty expressing themselves. They might not make eye contact and could be extremely adverse to touch.

In October, special legislation went into effect in Florida that will improve the way law enforcement interacts with children and adults with autism. House Bill 39 requires that all law enforcement officers in the state receive specialized training related to autism through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Sgt. McDonald took part in the curriculum workshop for this training, which is now being field tested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement before it can be widely used throughout the state. Sgt. McDonald is confident that the new legislation will continue to improve the skillsets deputies have when it comes to interacting with various individuals in the community. 

“I think it’s a win-win to the benefit and safety of the com-munity,” he said. “It’s going to help first responders and families here in Collier County.”

Collier County deputies are ahead of the curve in receiving special training for their interactions with those with autism through the Crisis Intervention Team training program. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk wants 100 percent of deputies to complete the training, which began in 2008 and teaches deputies how to interact with individuals who may show signs of mental illness, autism, or other developmental disabilities. The 40-hour training program is offered four times a year and has been proven to reduce injuries and death to police and individuals with mental illness or other diagnoses. So far, about 500 deputies have received the training.

“We teach recognition and response to autism,” said Sgt. McDonald.If a deputy encounters someone with autism at the scene of a traffic crash, for example, deputies learn to recognize signs that indicate an individual might have autism through their actions, limited communications, or behavior.

If that’s the case, Sgt. McDonald said deputies are trained to give an individual more personal space, to use simple language, and allow extra time for a response.Here are a few things you can do now if your child has autism:

1. Register your child in the C.A.R.E. data-base by contacting Supervisor Angela Larson of the Victim & Senior Advocacy Unit at 239-252-0232, or by email at Angela.Larson@colliersheriff.org.

This database tells deputies about your child’s physical appearance, tendencies, triggers, and preferences and can help locate him or her in an emergency.

2. Have your child outfitted with a Project Lifesaver bracelet, which will monitor his or her location if prone to wandering.

3. Get a free autism sticker for your vehicle. Place this sticker on the window where your child usually sits. The sticker lets first responders know that someone in the vehicle has autism and might be nonverbal.

Contact Sgt. McDonald at 239-252-0921, or by email at Daniel.McDonald@colliersheriff.org, with questions or to request a window sticker.

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If a Collier deputy catches your children in the act this summer, they might just get a “ticket.” The Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is again participating in 7-Eleven’s Operation Chill, a program that aims to reduce crime and build rapport between kids and law enforcement.

If a deputy spots a child wearing a helmet, picking up trash, or observing crosswalk rules, he or she could get a “ticket” for a free small Slurpee at 7-Eleven.

Hundreds of agencies around the country have participated in the program since it began in 1995.

Youth Relations Bureau Captain Beth Jones said Operation Chill is a great way to develop relationships with the youth in the community, while teaching the importance of making good decisions, being kind, and doing the right thing.

The program goes hand-in-hand with another initiative the sheriff’s office promotes year round. Students are recognized during award ceremonies for the good deeds they do either in school or in the community as part of the Do The Right Thing program. While it is usually teachers who nominate students, anyone in the community can do so.

Do you know a child who has “done the right thing” and deserves special recognition? We would love to hear from you. Forms are available to fill out online to submit to the CCSO. Visit www.colliersheriff.org/we-can-help/parent-resources/dothe-right-thing.

The award ceremonies are held six times a year at the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology, 3702 Estey Ave., Naples, in the school cafeteria at 3:30 p.m. Dates are updated throughout the summer for 2017-18 school year on www.colliersheriff.org.

In the past, winners have been recognized for standing up to bullies, giving found valuables to adults, donating birthday money to a nonprofit, and alerting adults to bad behavior by fellow students. We’ve even seen students rescuing other students from dangerous situations and calling 911 when their teacher needed medical attention.

During the ceremonies, a CCSO representative explains the award for each student and hands out certificates and medals. Students from elementary school through high school are eligible for nomination.

So tell your kids to be on their best behavior this summer. Our deputies will be patrolling parks, community events, and camps looking to hand out free treats courtesy of 7-Eleven. And you could find yourself being recognized at an upcoming Do The Right Thing Ceremony.

Thanks for helping to keep Collier County a great place and a safe place!

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