COEUR d’ALENE — Police Chief Lee White has been in law enforcement for 31 years. The most difficult cases he worked on did not involve homicide or drugs.

They were the cases of crimes against children.

“They take an enormous toll on an individual’s psyche," White said.

But with the state receiving more calls about individuals who use the internet or other technology to exploit children, White recently told the Coeur d’Alene City Council, “Clearly, we have a problem that needs to be investigated.”

That’s part of the reason why he sought the council’s approval of an interagency agreement with the Office of the Idaho Attorney General for one detective to participate in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The council unanimously agreed.

The Attorney General’s office will pay $132,000 for salary, benefits, computers and related electronic equipment, and pre-approved overtime associated with the detective position. 

The city will be responsible for uniforms, equipment, and a vehicle for the detective.

The Idaho task force is one of 62 across the country. Cases are generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or other means and investigated at a local or state level. 

In 2023, the state received over 2,400 cyber tips and expects to get nearly 3,400 this year.

In Kootenai County, in the past five months alone there were 32 new cases involving internet crimes against children assigned for investigation, according to a city report.

“Some of these tips end up being noncriminal in nature, but many become criminal cases regarding sexual exploitation of minors,” the report said.

White said a current detective will be assigned to the task force with their caseload assigned to another. The department will add one new position.

“The only way we can really make this happen is an addition to our detective unit,” White said.

He said the agreement does not have an end date and can be canceled by either party.

“I anticipate as long as our staffing model remains fairly solid that we would remain in this task force a very long period of time," he said.

White said investigating crimes involving children is difficult. One of his concerns with having a detective participate in the task force is finding the right person who won’t be overwhelmed.

That’s why the individual will be required to participate in counseling sessions twice a year.

“To take that kind of caseload for a long time is important," White said.