9-10-2024 4:05am

COUNTY COLLABORATES

Baltimore County Police and FBI Partner to Protect Communities from Cybercrime

The Baltimore County Police Department is proud to announce a new partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to protect communities from cybercrime which has become an evolving threat. Through the collaboration, two Baltimore County Police Corporals will become members of the FBI Cyber Task Force. As task force officers, Baltimore County Corporal Jasmine Fleet and Corporal Gregory Depew will receive extensive training as cyber investigators at the Secret Services’ National Computer Forensic Institute in Hoover, AL. They will also have access to federal resources to conduct digital forensic investigations and cryptocurrency tracing.

“By partnering with the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department will continue to be positioned as a forward-thinking agency with highly skilled members equipped to anticipate and address cyber threats,” said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough. “Through this partnership with the FBI, we further ensure our communities and residents in Baltimore County remain safe.”

Currently, the FBI has more than 300 task forces across the country with over 140 distinct agencies represented; Corporals Fleet and Depew are the first local task force officers assigned to the FBI’s Cyber Task Force in this region.

“I am grateful for the longstanding, steadfast relationship the FBI has with the Baltimore County Police Department. By expanding our Cyber Task Force, we are making our law enforcement capabilities stronger and our communities safer,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Cyber touches nearly every investigation the FBI conducts. This partnership will enable us to work more closely together and build stronger cases. Simply put, we’ll be able to bring justice to more victims and help prevent more crime.”

In 2023, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received notification of over 880,000 incidents amounting to approximately $12.5 billion in losses. Ransomware perpetrators, in 2023, received approximately $1.1 billion in ransom payments, according to Chainalysis.

“Keeping our residents safe is a top priority in Baltimore County and the growing threat of cybercrime is a problem that cannot — and will not – be ignored here,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Thanks to this partnership between our police department and the FBI, BCoPD officers will now be able to train with and join a federal cyber security task force that will enable them to solve cybercrimes at the local level, assist neighboring jurisdictions with investigations, and further enhance our commitment to public safety in every community.”

Through our collaborative efforts, the Baltimore County Police Department and our federal partners at the FBI are committed to ensuring Baltimore County remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.