"State Police will join forces with federal, state, county and municipal law-enforcement agencies to strengthen our efforts against computer-related crimes ranging from fraud to child pornography," Col. Evanko said in a statement. "By working together, we will enhance our ability to conduct investigations and stay one step ahead of the criminals."
Evanko said the first task force will be formed in the department's Area I, which covers 11 counties in south-central and south-east Pennsylvania.
Trooper Jon Nelson of the Computer Crime Unit of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation will serve as task-force coordinator. Other members of the Computer Crime Unit and federal, state and local law-enforcement officers assigned by agencies participating in the program will also serve on the task force.
"Fighting computer crime can be difficult for agencies because of the high costs of staffing, equipping and training personnel for these specialized, highly technical investigations," Evanko said. "But under this program, State Police will provide equipment -- such as computers and cell phones -- and the most up-to-date training to each task force member."
He also said task force members will have access to more sophisticated computer equipment in the task force office.
"Our ultimate goal is to create a computer crime task force in each of the department's five geographic command areas so we can identify trends in computer crime and disseminate that information to the criminal justice community," he said.
Funding for the task force will come from a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grant.
The Pennsylvania State Police
