Many children use computers and are online often, where Internet predators are just waiting to prey on young people.

That’s a concern for the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.  After the first of the year, they’ll be distributing 500 DVDs to parents.  Detective Brad Ricke says the free program, “Computer Cop,” allows parents to know which online sites their kids are visiting:

Ricke says parents should also check their kids’ cell phone apps.  He attended a recent meeting of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Wichita,  where the top concern was an app called “Kik.”  Ricke says it’s “easily used for ‘sexting’.”

The “Computer Cop” program has been available for about five years and it’s fairly expensive.  Ricke says the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department decided to “foot the costs because it’s an important tool in the arsenal to keep kids safe from online predators.”