Resolution 2011-2, Supports the Florida Sheriff's Association Cyber Sexual Predator Safety Initiative whose mission is to protect children on-line through internet safety educational lessons and to protect those children who are solicited, seduced, lured or enticed by an adult to commit any illegal act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child through consistent proactive enforcement operations.

WHEREAS, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is dedicated to prevent child victimization in cyberspace through aggressive educational programs, such as NetSmartz, directed toward youths and families, and;

WHEREAS, it is recognized through a NCMEC, Crimes Against Children Research Center and OJJDP report titled Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later, that an increasing number of youths have encountered unwanted exposures to sexual material and online harassment, and;

WHEREAS, more than 34% of youth Internet users saw sexual material online they did not want to see, and;

WHEREAS, the increase in exposure to unwanted sexual material occurred despite increased use of filtering, blocking, and monitoring software in households of youth Internet users, and;

WHEREAS, approximately 1 in 7 youths have reported that they received unwanted sexual solicitations, and;

WHEREAS, 4% of all youth internet users were solicited for nude or sexually explicit photographs of themselves, and;

WHEREAS, acquaintances played a growing role in many of the unwanted solicitations; 44% were offline acquaintances, mostly peers, with unwanted incidents happening when youths were using the Internet in the company of peers, and;

WHEREAS, educating youths of the dangers of the internet through internet safety education lessons can we assist in protecting our children from being victimized, and;

WHEREAS, the only way to locate, identify, arrest or apprehend those who use the internet to prey on children for their own sexual gratification is to take consistent proactive measures.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Florida Police Chiefs Association encourages all to support the Florida Sheriff's Association Cyber Sexual Predator Safety Initiative, its mission and objectives. Furthermore, that all members actively engage in the Cyber Sexual Predator Safety Initiative, when possible, to educate our youths of the dangers of the Internet and to take proactive measures to identify those individuals who use the internet to prey on children within our communities.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 29th day of September, 2011 in Wesley Chapel, Florida at a duly contstituted meeting of the Board of Directors of the Florida Police Chiefs Association.