$30,000 grant to combat online sexual predators

Boone County law enforcement will receive more than $30,000 to keep up the fight against online sexual predators.

Gov. Matt Blunt announced in a news release Thursday that law enforcement agencies across Missouri will receive more than $242,000 to help fight cyber crimes. The Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force, under the direction of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department and the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office, will receive the third largest grant.

“These grants help ensure our law enforcement officials have the tools and resources necessary to protect our children from cyber predators, child pornography and child exploitation,” Blunt said in the release.

Detective Andy Anderson, who heads the Mid-Missouri task force, said he and his colleagues were happy to hear the news.

“We desperately need funds in order to improve our resources,” Anderson said. “We are very thankful to the governor and to the state legislature for the funds.”

Anderson said that his department plans to use the funds to hire and train another investigator to help serve Boone and surrounding counties.

“The problem with cyber crimes is that they are grossly underreported, and they will still be underreported,” Anderson said. “But with assistance, we’ll be able to catch more people out there.”