For Release: Oct. 6, 2008
Contact: David Clementson
Email: dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Attorney General Bob McDonnell Works with Microsoft, Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy to Hold Seminar on Online Investigations
Over 75 Officials from 35 Law Enforcement Agencies from Chesapeake to Lee County Participate
Microsoft Professionals Teach Law Enforcement How to Best Use Their Programs in Online Investigations
ABINGDON - The Office of Attorney General Bob McDonnell joined with Microsoft Corp. and the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy today to train more than 75 law enforcement officials from 35 different law enforcement agencies in effective online investigation practices and how to work with Microsoft in the investigation of online crimes.
The all-day training session is being held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
The event opened at 8:30 with introductory remarks by a representative from Microsoft and a member of The Office of the Attorney General’s Computer Crime Section. The day consists of training sessions, including “Trends in Internet and Computer Crimes” and “Microsoft Online Services for Law Enforcement.” Two additional sessions will focus on how to handle digital evidence and advanced investigation techniques.
Attorney General Bob McDonnell will deliver closing remarks this afternoon.
“21st Century criminals have learned how to utilize the tools of our modern communications systems to defraud and victimize our citizens,” Attorney General McDonnell said. “Fighting online crime is a constant battle to stay one-step ahead of these criminals. To be successful we must have proactive partnerships between public law enforcement and private technology companies. I want to commend Microsoft for holding this training session today. No one has a better understanding of how Microsoft’s programs work than the individuals who created and run those programs. The knowledge that Virginia law enforcement members gained today through this partnership with Microsoft will prove invaluable in their continued pursuit of online criminals. Today’s training will help keep Virginians safer online, and put more online criminals behind bars where they belong.”
Tim Cranton, Associate General Counsel and Senior Director, Worldwide Internet Safety Enforcement Team at Microsoft, noted, “Microsoft is honored to work with Attorney General McDonnell to help better equip law enforcement officers in Virginia with the tools and technical knowledge they need to conduct investigations into Internet-based crimes. Relationships with government and law enforcement, like this one with the Commonwealth of Virginia, are at the heart of Microsoft’s commitment to Internet safety, and we are excited to work together on opportunities like this to collectively help make the Internet more secure for everyone.”
Virginia is a national leader in the fight against online crime. Click here to learn more about the work of the Office of Attorney General Bob McDonnell and his Computer Crime Section.
Law Enforcement Agencies Participating in Today’s Training:
1. Galax Police Department
2. Lee County Sheriff’s Office
3. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office
4. Henry County Sheriff’s Office
5. Virginia State Police
6. Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office
7. Independence Police Department
8. Washington County Sheriff’s Office
9. Wise County Sheriff’s Office
10. Roanoke County Police Department
11. Bristol Police Department
12. Internal Revenue Service
13. Lebanon Police Department
14. Smyth County Sheriff’s Office
15. Southwest Regional Jail
16. Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol
17. Radford University Police Department
18. Abingdon Police Department
19. United States Marshals Service
20. Staunton Police Department
21. Christiansburg Police Department
22. Blacksburg Police Department
23. Patrick County Sheriff’s Office
24. Norfolk Southern Rail Road Police Department
25. Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorney's office
26. Wise County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
27. Chesapeake Police Department
28. New River Regional Jail
29. US District Court for Western District
30. Fredericksburg Commonwealth Attorney's office
31. Waynesboro Police Department
32. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
33. Tazewell Police Department
34. Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (Abingdon)
35. Floyd County Sheriff’s Office
