Technological Crimes Unit

Technology has found its way into virtually every aspect of our lives. Advances in computer technology have increased our efficiency, provided entertainment and allowed us to share images and movies with many people transcending borders throughout the globe. The Internet has become the communication medium of choice. We can purchase virtually anything with just a few keystrokes and transfer money without ever seeing the inside of a banking institution. In many ways technology has streamlined the way we do business. Unfortunately there is a dark side to every good thing. Many criminals have become very adept at using technology as a means of doing their criminal activities. Criminals are using computers and the Internet as new ways to perpetrate old crimes. Criminals have also used the technology to invent a few new crimes, such as computer hacking, identity theft and Internet auction fraud, just to name a few. Read more about internet safety on this website.

The Technological Crimes Unit of the Medicine Hat Police Service is responsible for investigating and assisting investigations involving sexual exploitation of children on the internet, internet auction fraud, identity theft, computer hacking, theft of high-tech computer components, counterfeit computer software, and any other crimes where the computer is used as a tool or is the target of an offence.

The Medicine Hat Police Service has recently taken part in a provincial initiative to combat the exploitation of children on the Internet within the Province of Alberta. The initiative combines the human resources from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat Police services and is referred to as the Integrated Child Exploitation team or “ICE” team. The ICE team conducts on-line investigations as well as investigations generated by the public where children are depicted for a sexual purpose on a computer or website.

If you know of anyone in possession or distributing images and/or movies of children being exploited, please notify Sgt. Tim Schottner of the Technological Crimes Unit at hatcybercop@medicinehat.ca or call Crime Stoppers.