Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
As technology continues to change, the Bossier City Marshal’s Office is updating its training and investigative techniques to help protect children from online exploitation, including crimes involving artificial intelligence.
Jim Whitman, Bossier City marshal, said deputies recently received specialized training focused on online investigations, child exploitation and emerging threats. The training included information about AI-generated images, updated investigative tools, changes in the law and techniques for interviewing victims.
Artificial intelligence has created additional challenges for investigators, particularly when it is used to create child sexual abuse material. Training helps deputies understand how these cases can be investigated and how evidence can be gathered to support prosecution.
Deputies also completed more than 60 hours of training focused on sextortion and grooming, which involve predators manipulating or threatening children online. Other emerging concerns include swatting, self-harm and nihilistic violent extremism.
Whitman said social media, internet platforms and applications can make it easier for predators to conceal their identities and reach children through different online channels.
“The Bossier City Marshal’s Office has been committed in protecting our youth online since 2006. We take crimes against children very seriously. Our youth live in a technology driven world. Our deputies attend training to learn new techniques and resources to combat the dangers youth face while using it. Internet platforms and applications are constantly updating and new trends spread fast with popularity. We believe it is important to educate our youth, parents, and others on internet safety. The Bossier City Marshal’s Office will always work with other agencies and assist where we can to educate, investigate, and assist in combating exploitation of our youth.”
The office’s work includes assisting other law enforcement agencies with investigations involving online crimes against children. Deputies may help conduct interviews, process digital evidence and testify in court.
Specialized training is important because investigators must follow legal procedures when collecting evidence. Digital devices can contain large amounts of information, and security measures can make it difficult to access. Investigations involving suspects in other states can also require additional coordination between agencies.
The importance of that cooperation was demonstrated in a recent Louisiana Attorney General’s Office investigation involving a Bossier City man accused of possessing and producing child sexual abuse material.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the investigation resulted in hundreds of charges and involved multiple agencies, including the Bossier City Marshal’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The investigation began after an account was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities said the account contained hundreds of files depicting child sexual abuse material. The case remained under investigation at the time of the announcement, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Whitman said agencies share a common goal when investigating crimes against children.
“We all share the common goal of keeping children safe. That is the priority!”
The marshal’s office also encourages parents to remain involved in their children’s online activity. Whitman’s guidance includes checking devices frequently, knowing children’s passwords and access codes, and paying attention to what they do online.
Parents who discover possible evidence of exploitation should avoid deleting messages, images or other material that could be important to an investigation. Instead, they should preserve the information, gather basic details and contact law enforcement so investigators can determine the appropriate next steps.
As online platforms and technology continue to evolve, Whitman said education, specialized training and cooperation among law enforcement agencies remain important tools in protecting children.