Richard Whidden, NLC Executive Director presenting Child Defender award to Fairfax County (VA) 2d Lt. Scott Durham

The National Law Center for Children and Families recognized the Fairfax County (VA) Police Child Exploitation Unit as its Child Defender of the Month for April 2007.

Fairfax County Police Child Exploitation Section officers are responsible for investigating child exploitation crimes, including online child predators and child pornography. The Sexual Predator Enforcement and Apprehension Detail (SPEAD) is responsible for investigating registered sex offenders and child exploitation crimes. "All of the detectives are hand-picked and excellent detectives," said Lt. Durham. "Child Exploitation and SPEAD work very closely together, supporting each other in investigations, search warrants and arrest operations." One recent case resulted in the arrest of an alleged child pornographer located in another state which required the coordination of multi-state and federal authorities. It is this work that merited our selection of these dedicated officers as our Child Defenders of the Month.