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State crime task force gets $2 million boost

Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 6 months AGO
by Jesse Davis
| May 1, 2014 2:15 PM

Whitefish venture capitalist and philanthropist Mike Goguen is at it again.

Just as Two Bear Air — a nonprofit aerial rescue organization completely funded by Goguen — gets used to its new $8 million helicopter, Goguen has decided to put his money behind yet another cause.

Goguen has now committed $2 million to the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force over the next five years to fund three full-time officers for the agency as well as additional training and technology.

The agency was created as a result of a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention. 

Goguen first learned of the agency during a late 2013 task force sting operation during which Two Bear Air provided surveillance and target tracking using the advanced camera systems on its helicopter.

Goguen so far has funded Two Bear Air to the tune of roughly $11 million, including the new helicopter. 

Last year, Goguen donated $500,000 to complete a fundraising campaign for a new North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish.

Previously he donated $3 million to the Whitefish Trail project.

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