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Utah County accepts private grant for Special Victims Unit to bolster online child-exploitation work
Summary
The county approved an agreement to accept a private grant routed through Operation Underground Railroad to fund training, equipment and overtime for internet child‑exploitation investigations led by the sheriff’s Special Victims Unit. Commissioners approved the agreement unanimously.
The Utah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement to accept a grant administered through Operation Underground Railroad to support the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Jason Bridal, supervisor of the Special Victims Unit (Speaker 28), told commissioners the funds arrived after private donors designated support to law-enforcement agencies tackling internet child exploitation. Bridal said the grant will pay for specialized training, certification maintenance and equipment, and will help the county pursue cases involving online predators and activity on the dark web.
Bridal described recent operations and arrests and explained that the investigations require long-term training and resources: “The training alone…to get one investigator up to speed is usually about three years,” he said. He told the board the grant offsets overtime and equipment costs for advanced online investigations.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about scope and use; there was no public opposition on record. The commission moved and seconded approval of the agreement (regular agenda Item 6), and the motion carried 3–0.
The county will use the funds according to the grant agreement for investigator training, equipment purchases and overtime related to internet‑based child-exploitation investigations. No matching county appropriation was required as part of this action; the vote authorizes the Sheriff’s Office to accept the donation and use it under the conditions in the agreement.
