Cindy Smith, investigator with the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s Office, said Lt. Gov. Jari Askins will be speaking about Project Safe Childhood along with other officials, including State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau), State Rep. Glen “Bud” Smithson (D-Sallisaw), U.S. Assistant District Attorney Ed Snow, District Attorney Jerry Moore, Sheriff Ron Lockhart, and Steve Tanner, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) agent who is the liaison between the OSBI and the Internet Crimes Against Children group.
“The meeting is open to the public,” Smith said, explaining officers want parents and caregivers to learn “how best to protect your child while he or she is on the Internet. We will talk about what to look for, how to find a computer’s history, and the tricks predators use to get children to talk to them.”
Smith said the program is being held in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is April.
“I would like to invite everyone to attend.…the public is invited to ask questions on how we can better protect our children while they are on the Internet.”
Smith said, “We are really excited about this program, and that Lt. Gov. Askins is coming and is interested in the program.”
Smith said she will be taking training on protecting children from Internet sexual predators.
These predators, Smith said, “…are stalking our children. It doesn’t just happen in New York and Los Angeles, it happens everywhere.
“It is really true that my heart is in this,” Smith said. “If we’re not willing to put in some effort to protect our children, who will? They are our future.“
Smith concluded, “The best prevention is education,” and parents, grandparents and guardians will learn how to track children’s forays on the Internet and learn how to block unwanted communications.
