Connect with us

Police/Fire/EMS

Stony Point Police Department Wants Parents Caregivers And Educators To Know About Sextortion

Published

on

Sextortion: What Parents, Caregivers, and Educators Need to Know

What is sextortion?

Sextortion occurs when an adult, through threat or manipulation, coerces a minor into producing a sexually explicit image and sending it over the Internet.

Why would any child or teen agree to do such a thing?

The individuals carrying out this crime are skilled and ruthless and have honed their techniques and approaches to maximize their chances at success. The entry point to a young person can be any number of mobile or online sites, applications, or games. The approach may come as compliments or flattery or the pretense of beginning a romantic relationship.

Another entry point is to offer the child something they value in exchange for a taking a quick picture. This could be the possibility of a modeling contract; online game credits or codes; or money, cryptocurrency, and gift cards.

The third common point of entry is to go right to threats by either claiming they already have an image of the young person that they will distribute or threatening to harm the child or other people or things the child cares about.

Once the perpetrator has the first image, they use the threat of exposure or other harm to keep the child producing more and more explicit material.

My child would never do that.

The FBI has interviewed victims as young as 8, and the crime affects children of both genders and crosses all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

The victims are honor-roll students, the children of teachers, student athletes, etc. The only common trait among victims is Internet access.

Why don’t the victims tell someone or ask for help?

The cycle of victimization continues because the child is afraid-afraid of the repercussions threatened by the criminal and afraid they will be in trouble with their parents, guardians, or law enforcement. By the time a child is a victim, they have done something that may be generating deep feelings of shame and embarrassment. The criminal may also be telling them they have produced child pornography and will be prosecuted for it. In addition, they may fear their access to their phone or computer will be taken away from them as a result of their actions.

How do I protect the young people I know?

Information-sharing and open lines of communication are the best defense. Young people need to know this crime is happening and understand where the risks are hiding. Explain to the children in your life that people can pretend to be anyone or anything online, a stranger reaching out to them online may be doing so with bad intent, and no matter what the platform or application claims, nothing “disappears” online. If they take a photo or video, it always has the potential to become public. You may choose to place certain limits on your children’s Internet use or spot check their phones and other devices to see what applications they are using and with whom they are communicating. This can be part of an open and ongoing conversation about what is and is not appropriate online. It also may be worth considering a rule against devices in bedrooms overnight or shutting off Wi-Fi access in the overnight hours. Caregivers may also want to review the settings on a young person’s social media accounts with them. Keeping accounts private can prevent predators from gathering their personal information. The other crucial element is to keep the door open to your children so that they know they can come to you and ask for help. Let them know that your first move will be to help-always. These predators are powerful because of fear, and the victims suffer ever more negative consequences as the crime carries on over days, weeks, and months.

If you are the adult a child trusts with this information, comfort them, help them understand they have been the victim of a crime, and help them report it to your local law enforcement.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Police/Fire/EMS

North Rockland Emergency Services Conduct Large-Scale Train Derailment Drill in Haverstraw

Published

on

Haverstraw, NY — On Sunday, June 22, volunteer firefighters and multiple emergency service agencies took part in a train derailment emergency response drill in the Villages of West Haverstraw and Haverstraw, simulating a real-world rail incident as part of an ongoing regional preparedness effort.

The exercise was organized by the North Rockland Emergency Rail Organization (NERO), a specialized task force formed to ensure readiness in the event of a rail-related emergency in Rockland County. The full-scale drill tested coordination, communication, and tactical response among first responders, fire departments, EMS, law enforcement, and supporting agencies.

The simulation included staged scenarios that mimicked real-life derailment conditions—complete with mock casualties, emergency triage areas, and containment procedures—offering a valuable hands-on experience for participants.

Agencies participating in the exercise included:

The West Haverstraw Volunteer Fire Department
The Haverstraw Volunteer Fire Department
The Thiells Volunteer Fire Department
Chris Jensen and the Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services
The Town of Haverstraw Police Department
Mayor Robert D’Amelio and the Village of West Haverstraw Board
Mayor Michael Kohut and the Village of Haverstraw Board
Supervisor Howard Phillips and the Town of Haverstraw Board
Sheriff Louis Falco and The Rockland County Sheriff’s Department
The Haverstraw Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
WHFD Firefighter Joe DeLucia
The Rockland County Volunteer Hazardous Materials Team
RC Volunteer Deputy Fire Coordinators & Chiefs – Thomas McKiernan, Michael Yannazzone Jr., Patrick Pasculo, & Bobby LaGrow
The Rockland County Volunteer Fire Police Officers Association
Veolia Water Company
Orange and Rockland Utilities
CSX Transportation Inc.
Rockland County Legislator Paul Cleary
West Haverstraw DPW Superintendent Anthony Sparta and his staff

NERO and local officials extended their sincere thanks to the residents and businesses of West Haverstraw and Haverstraw for their patience and cooperation during the drill. The exercise did temporarily impact local traffic and noise levels, but residents overwhelmingly supported the initiative, recognizing the importance of proactive preparedness.

This event underscores the ongoing commitment of North Rockland emergency service agencies to mitigate disasters and respond quickly and effectively when real emergencies strike.

Continue Reading

Police/Fire/EMS

Clarkstown Police Hosts State-Certification K9 Training with Neighboring Police Departments

Published

on

The Clarkstown Police Department proudly hosted a Regional K9 Training session, led by PO Keane with K9 Jax and PO Levy with K9 Drogo. This comprehensive program covered all key aspects of police K9 work, including obedience, detection, tracking, and patrol tactics—all essential components for state certification.

We were honored to welcome our colleagues from the Carmel Police Department, New Rochelle Police Department, and City of Yonkers Police Department.

These joint training sessions are invaluable for strengthening regional partnerships and ensuring our K9 teams are fully prepared to protect the communities we serve.

📸: Courtesy of Briana Alcantara

Continue Reading

Trending