Since last year, Bedford County officers have tried to nab computer pedophiles

Sheriff to fight online crime by teaching safe surfing

Operation Blue Ridge Thunder has led to several convictions for child pornography.

By S.D. Harrington, The Roanoke Times

    FOREST -- Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown will take his campaign against Internet [child] pornography into the classroom.

   Brown said Thursday that he will begin a "safe surfin'" program in Bedford County schools next fall.  And he'll pitch the idea to all Virginia school superintendents in September.

   Since February of 1998, Sheriff's Office investigators have surfed online chat rooms for pedophiles.  The investigations have led to the arrests and convictions of several men across the country for transmitting child pornography by e-mail.

   Dubbed Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, the undercover investigation got a boost last year after the Sheriff's Office won a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for fighting Internet crimes against children.

   Deputy Sergio Kopelev, head of Bedford County's high-tech crimes unit -- an offshoot of the Internet investigations -- said the educational program will be modeled after Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E.

   Deputies will advise school children of how to stay away from adults in the Internet who may want to take advantage of them, Kopelev said.

   In addition to the new school program, Brown has a new Web site (www.blueridgethunder.com) and some prominent names to help him spread the word about the Internet crackdown.

   Irvine, Calif.-based Gotcha Sportswear executive Marvin Winkler -- a family friend of Brown's -- has offered to help publicize the Bedford County operation.  Winkler was a major contributo to Brown's political campaign for sheriff four years ago.

   Brown has also recruited the help of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who used his conservative pull to get the sheriff on some national radio and TV talk shows, including Oliver North's radio show.