Above / Find the tribute to the Naperville Police Department located at the Public Safety Campus, 1380 Aurora Avenue. Thanks to the Exchange Club of Naperville and its signature event, Ribfest, partnering with the NPD to produce programs such as “Keeping Kids Safe Online” is possible to help prevent child abuse.
The Naperville Police Department’s critical message to parents about “Keeping Kids Safe Online” is gaining a national audience, thanks to a partnership between the police department and the Exchange Club of Naperville.
An hour-long, professionally-produced video of the Keeping Kids Safe Online internet safety program will premiere at an Exchange Club of Naperville luncheon on Friday, January 6, 2017, and make its debut on the National Exchange Club website – www.nationalexchangeclub.org – within the first few weeks of 2017.
In the video, Naperville Police Detective Rich Wistocki discusses the online dangers currently facing our youth and gives instructions on how to keep kids safe and avoid victimization on their electronic devices and social networks.
“Detective Wistocki is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on internet crimes and prevention. It has been very exciting to work with him on this project, which brings his training and expertise to families across the country,” said Scot Warren, a member of the Exchange Club of Naperville and the Region 3 Vice President serving on the board of the National Exchange Club. “This video is educational, informative and professional. I believe it’s going to make a tremendous impact.”
A brief history of Keeping Kids Safe Online
The Keeping Kids Safe Online project began as a partnership between the Naperville Police Department and the Exchange Club of Naperville about 15 years ago through the coordination of club member Sherry Weinstein.
What started out as in-person presentations to educate parents on how to keep their kids safe online has evolved in recent years to include webinars and information regarding the latest trends, applications and technology impacting our children today.
Earlier this year, the Keeping Kids Safe Online project was adopted by the National Exchange Club as a national project, falling under the organization’s emphasis on the prevention of child abuse.
The video, recorded and produced by NCTV17, a nonprofit community television station in Naperville, will be made available to all of the nation’s 650 Exchange Clubs, which will be urged to share the information with their communities.
“We have worked really hard to put this together and to empower our parents to protect their kids against cyber bullying, sexting and sextortion,” Wistocki said. “We show parents exactly what they should be doing on their kids’ devices and social accounts to protect them from bullying, predators and other dangers.”
Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall added, “We’re fortunate in Naperville to have the resources and community partnerships necessary to bring this message to our families and teach parents how to keep their kids safe online. Our police department is extremely grateful for this partnership and opportunity to reach even more families with this training.”
‘Keepiing Kids Safe Online’
The video also is posted on the Naperville Police Department’s website, www.naperville.il.us/internetsafety.
Submitted by Commander Jason Arres,Office of Professional Standards, Public Information Officer, for the Naperville Police Department.
