What Is Happening

I'm deeply concerned about recent government funding cuts to law enforcement training on child exploitation. This is not just about budget numbers; it's about the safety and well-being of children across the United States. Without proper training, our law enforcement officials are ill-equipped to handle cases of child exploitation, which can lead to tragic consequences.

These cuts were made quietly without much notice at the start of 2025.  

Why This Matters to Me

Unfortunately, I have first-hand experience with this. If you're not familiar with me or my story, let me tell you about why this matters most to me. From the ages of 3 through 12, I was in the hands of a man who made CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) of me. While I knew it was happening, there was nothing more shocking than seeing the evidence with my own two eyes during the case discovery with Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). 

At about 12 years old, I had to sit in a room with an LEO I'd not met more than a few times and identify myself in these sexually explicit images. Then they disappeared. In the hands of our government. And the person who did this to me for almost ten years received a slap on the wrist in the form of a Class D Misdemeanor and 9 months in jail -- people get harsher sentencing for shoplifting $50 worth of merchandise or urinating in public.

It turns out that the LEO presiding on the case allegedly went to high school with the man who abused me. In addition to this, most of the evidence gathered against the man was improperly stored in the Officer's desk drawer, not having been logged in evidence or stored in a locker, it was discredited for having been, "tampered with." As for the CSAM that I had to sit down in an investigation room and identify myself in, the state claims there was nothing on the computer when their lab received it for processing. I still don't understand how this could happen, and myself and my family on my side was left in the dark for this process.

This goes to show how gross case mishandling has dangerous abusers walking scott-free. The case I describe above happened almost 20 years ago at this point, and I shudder at the thought of how many others have experienced the same treatment that I did. Since publicly posting my story on socials, I've learned that my experience here was not unique. In fact, lazy Law Enforcement and judgement proceedings seem to be at the epicenter of judicial corruption.

What Does This Mean

We rely on law enforcement officers to protect our most vulnerable citizens, and training is an essential piece of this puzzle. The funding cuts could severely impact their ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who exploit children. With the rise of digital crimes, the need for specialized knowledge in how these crimes occur is more important than ever. Our children's safety should not be compromised by budgetary decisions.

These cuts send the wrong message. Child protection should always be a priority. By restoring funding, we can ensure our officers have the tools and knowledge necessary to combat exploitation effectively. This is about prevention and protection, and every child deserves to feel safe.

What You Can Do

I urge you to sign this petition to restore funding for the essential training our law enforcement agencies need. Let’s make sure they are properly equipped to protect children from exploitation. Your signature can help influence change for the safety of our kids.