Staff Sgt. Shawn Stubbs is looking forward to his new job as ICE coordinator. (Prince Albert Police Service)

By Nigel Maxwell

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The man leading the charge for the province’s internet child exploitation unit (ICE), is encouraging parents to talk to their kids about online safety.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Stubbs spoke to the media Monday during a Zoom conference, and explained every new app and new device can be used by people for nefarious reasons.

“Bad people learn how to use it and they do their stuff and we have to keep up with them, keep on top of all these things. It’s not just one app, it’s everything across the board,” he said.

Prior to his recent appointment, Stubbs worked as a patrol officer with the Prince Albert Police Service. When asked by paNOW what motivated him to pursue the coordinator job, Stubbs explained that when the opportunity first arose last year, he read further into it and was intrigued by the opportunity to help children. He also recognized however the job his unit does on a day-to-day basis is very difficult.

“Some people do this for three years, five years, 10 years but there’s always a certain point in time where you have to step aside and move on and do something else because this does eat you up pretty bad,” he said.

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While Stubbs is still very new to the position, and acknowledged himself he has a steep learning curve, he said one goal he does have during his three year term is to create a computer system that is just for the ICE unit.

“Right now it’s set up where Regina does their files on their system, RCMP does it on theirs, and Saskatoon and Prince Albert all have their home systems. I would like one where we are all linked together on the same computer system,” he said.

In 2020, the ICE Unit conducted 737 investigations across the province, compared to 528 in 2019, and 321 in 2018. Police laid a total of 115 charges against 39 people. With more people sitting at home due to COVID, both adults and children, Stubbs said it’s possible the pandemic may increase activity related to his job but added at this time, he does not have any numbers to show for that.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell