On Wednesday, state leaders will meet to deliver an update on a month-long law enforcement campaign to arrest internet child predators.
Operation Safe Online Summer, or SOS, was led by the Phoenix Police Department and the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and it is part of a broader national operation led by the Justice Department.
“Our department is committed to the safety and well-being of our children, and we will take appropriate actions to stop predators in our communities,” stated Phoenix Police Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro.
Using multiple investigations, the operation identified and tracked down child predators and individuals involved in the transmission of child exploitation material.
In Arizona and neighboring states, authorities completed over 100 investigations and detained more than 70 individuals. Here’s a breakdown of the results:
- 132 Investigations initiated
- 139 NCMEC CyberTips cleared (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
- 243 Search warrants authored
- 72 total arrests, including: 9 hands-on offenders, 12 registered sex offenders, Identification of 25 victims of ongoing exploitation, 14 newly identified child victims
- Examination of over 1,000 devices
- Over 60 terabytes of data
- 11 community education events held, reaching over 350 parents and students
“Operation Safe Online Summer shows what’s possible when law enforcement agencies come together with one goal—protecting our kids,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Phoenix, Gilbert, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Surprise, Sahuarita, Tucson, Tempe, Avondale, Flagstaff, Glendale, Peoria, Chandler, and Prescott Valley police agencies also participated in the operation.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety joined forces with several county agencies, including the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies also collaborated with the FBI’s Phoenix field office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
“These arrests reflect our commitment to protecting children and making our communities safer. Bringing offenders to justice takes dedication, precision, and teamwork. Our detectives work diligently to track down those wishing to harm the most vulnerable residents in our community, and ensure those offenders are held accountable,” said Chandler Assistant Chief of Police Chris Perez.
