By A.M. Kelley
Catholic Herald

Cathedral students learn about Internet safety

SUPERIOR -- It can't happen here. But it does happen here, according to Capt. Chad La Lor of the Superior Police Department.

Douglas County children, like children all over the United States, receive sexual solicitations and unwanted exposure to sexual materials over the Internet.

"One out of five children, nationally, are solicited or given pornography online," La Lor said.

He and Detective Tom Champaigne have delivered this cautionary message to adults, but in December they paid a visit to Cathedral School, Superior, and talked to students in grades 5 to 8 about Internet use.

The officers are well-versed in computer technology and Internet lingo, and they shared a few real-life online horror stories, but the lesson for staying safe boiled down to some very simple talk.

"If it seems creepy, it probably is," La Lor said. "Trust your instincts. Don't respond. Tell your parents."

They've been spreading this message to adult groups in the community but not to children, until now.

"It's the first time we've been requested to give this presentation to a school," La Lor said.

The idea originated with fifth grade teacher Diane Larson. The parents of one of her students thought instruction on Internet safety would be a good idea and Larson agreed.

"At this age kids don't think anything can happen to them," she said.

By a show of hands, nearly every student at the school assembly has access to the Internet at home. Nationally, 90 percent of the population have Internet access in the home, La Lor said.

When Principal Tim Johnson introduced the officers and subject to the student assembly he said the potential dangers of the Internet, and the people who may be interested in causing harm, should not be underestimated.

"There are some sick individuals in the world," he said. "But don't assume that they're dumb."

So how do students stay safe and how do parents protect them when the dangers are in the family's home?

The bottom line is to get smart and not engage in risky online behavior, according to La Lor and Champaigne. Information which should never be revealed to strangers on the Internet is as basic as one's last name or the name of one's school.

Children are especially easy prey online because an Internet user can easily disguise his or her identity, age or gender. A chatty, friendly child can unwittingly become a victim regardless of where he or she lives and this scenario includes northern Wisconsin.

"We have investigated a few cases over the past years of adults trying to entice kids into sexual acts," La Lor said.

There has been at least one prosecution. In 2002 a 23-year-old male met a 13-year-old Superior girl online and tried to lure her to his house for sexual relations. He was arrested, convicted and is now a registered sex offender.

The Superior Police Department currently has two Internet-related cases pending, La Lor said, one a child pornography case and the other carries an assault charge.

Champaigne is investigating the child pornography case, a felony-level crime. The case has required international searches.

"The person possessing the child pornography is local," he said, "but the images have been traded all over the world."

Of the more than 1,200 images possessed by the alleged child pornographer, to ensure a prosecution, Champaigne must verify that as many as possible of the images are in fact those of children.

"This is the most graphic (material) I've had to deal with," he said.

In spite of all the horror stories, Champaigne believes the Internet is a great tool, but one that must be used with good judgement.

"The Internet is like a car," he said. "And bad things can happen to you when you're in a car."

Editor's note: Cathedral School in Superior will host more presentations on issues important to parents and their children in the future. Johnson said a panel discussion on methamphetamine will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in the school gym.

Douglas County prosecuting attorney Dan Blank is one of the featured speakers. Organizers have an adult audience in mind but the material is appropriate for middle school students and older. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.

"We want them to understand what's out there and the dangers (of meth)," Johnson said.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call the school at 715-392-2976.

Capt. Chad La Lor and Detective Tom Champaigne's rules for safe Internet use

For young people:

* Tell your parents or another trusted adult if someone sends you messages or material which scare, confuse or make you uncomfortable.

* Never give a stranger online your full name, address, telephone number, school name or other personal information about friends or family.

* Never agree to meet someone you have met online.

* Never respond to offensive or questionable communications.

For parents:

* Educate yourselves about computers and the Internet.

* Establish ground rules for children's online use. The rules should include the time of day and the amount of time spent online, and appropriate sites to visit.

* If a computer is kept in the child's bedroom -- not in a central location in the home -- use caution. There's a higher probability that a child could be lured into harmful acts or conversations.

* Contact the police department if children are approached and sexually solicited online, or are exposed to sexual material.

Other resources:

* www.missingkids.com

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Child pornography and online enticement can be reported here.

* www.netsmartz.org

Useful links, tools and tips including a safety quiz for parents and a primer on chat abbreviations.

* www.protectkids.com

This Web site has information about filters and software monitoring and other information about protecting kids in cyberspace.

* www.safeteens.com

An Internet safety site with advice for teens and parents.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006