COLLABORATION IN COMMUNITY POLICING

Submitted by Captain Charles Eaneff

Sunnyvale is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. The Department of Public Safety provides police, fire and emergency medical services for a population of approximately 133,000.

In 2000, Sunnyvale learned that through internet chat lines, a local CEO stalked, met and eventually sexually assaulted a local 12-year old student. This caused Officer Penny Gleason and Probation Officer Bill Bonsall to develop a community response to internet crime. They contacted “Yahoo” who agreed to partner with Probation and Public Safety in creating and presenting “Internet Safety” talks utilizing Yahoo volunteers and Public Safety Officers at every 6th grade class in Sunnyvale.

Parents, teachers, students and businesses expressed concern that a valuable tool such as the internet is being used to identify, stalk and victimize our youth. Since this is a tool that has no geographic restrictions or boundaries, it can and has been used domestically and internationally in crimes ranging from fraud to child exploitation and terrorism. Sunnyvale, Probation, parents, teachers, school students and Yahoo have come together to address this as a community issue, teaching our children the safe use of this valuable tool.

In the days before cars, our children did not need traffic safety education. They do now. In the days before the internet, our children did not need internet safety education. They do now. This community oriented policing project addresses one of the fastest growing crime patterns in the country in an effective, efficient and collaborative manner.

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