Congresswoman Angie Craig Submits Request for the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office to Receive $325,000 for Electronic Crimes Unit

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced her submission for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office to receive $325,000 for the department's electronic crimes unit outreach and program expansion in 2023. Craig submitted her request for Community Project Funding (CPF) for the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations process, through which Members of Congress are able to request funding for up to 15 specific projects in their districts which would serve the public good.

"I'm proud to announce my submission for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office to receive federal support for this important project," said Representative Craig. "These funds will allow the Sheriff's Office to work with school districts, senior communities, domestic and sexual violence advocacy groups and other law enforcement agencies to protect our communities against the unique online threats that our residents face."

"Technology has delivered incredible benefits to our communities while also posing new and significant challenges for law enforcement. Our community is confronting a whole new set of threats online – from cyberstalking, elder scams, cyberbullying and more – and we need the tools to protect Minnesotans from these new and growing dangers," said Sheriff Tim Leslie. "The funding that Representative Angie Craig has requested for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office would help us take a critical step forward in addressing and preventing the harmful side effects of being online – and we're grateful for her assistance in securing this additional support."

The project funding would be used for a county-wide outreach campaign to prevent and prosecute electronic crimes and determine the volume of victimization. Funding would also be utilized to hire a forensic technician responsible for investigating crimes such as cyberstalking, elder scams and cyberbullying, as well as leverage personnel in the Electronic Crimes Unit of the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, this project would also increase the discovery and prosecution of these underreported crimes and provide necessary community education and law enforcement training to prevent crime and improve case outcomes.

The House Appropriations Committee intends to fund community projects on a limited basis in the FY23 Appropriations bills. Therefore, CPF requests that address the most significant needs of local communities or provide a significant public good are more likely to be included. The CPF program is being implemented with accountability measures to ensure a responsible and transparent process.

###