COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A two-month operation led to the arrests of 88 child-sex suspects who targeted children in Colorado, according to a release from the Colorado Spring Police (CSP) Department.
The operation was a dual effort between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The Colorado Springs Police PD is the lead ICAC agency for the more than 90 affiliated Colorado law enforcement agencies in Colorado, the release states, and is responsible for 23 of the 88 online child-sex offenders that were arrested during the operation. About 40 were arrested by the Aurora Police Department.
Operation Broken Heart suspects
The operation was part of a national effort called “Operation Broken Heart” which led to the arrest of nearly 1,700 suspected online child-sex offenders during the two-month period, according to the DOJ.
“Every year, we are proud to take part in this operation and believe it is necessary that we continually take proactive steps in protecting children,” CSP Chief Vince Niski said in the release. “Because of the hard work put in by all 90 law enforcement agencies over the last two months, the streets of Colorado are that much safer.
The task forces identified 308 offenders who either produced child pornography or committed child sexual abuse, and 357 children who suffered recent, ongoing or historical sexual abuse or were exploited in the production of child pornography, the DOJ said.
> For more information about Colorado ICAC and available resources go to coloradoicac.com. To report suspected online sexual exploitation of a child visit cybtertipline.org.
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