TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Police Department is joining forces with the FBI to bolster the nation’s cyber defenses against a rising tide of cyberthreats.

Through the partnership, two Baltimore County Police corporals will become members of the FBI Cyber Task Force, a move that will make them part of 300 task forces across the country with over 140 distinct agencies.

The corporals, Jasmine Fleet and Gregory Depew, will receive extensive training as cyber investigators at the Secret Services’ National Computer Forensic Institute in Hoover, AL. They’ll also have access to federal resources to conduct digital forensic investigations and cryptocurrency tracing.

“By partnering with the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department will continue to be positioned as a forward-thinking agency with highly skilled members equipped to anticipate and address cyber threats,” said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough. “Through this partnership with the FBI, we further ensure our communities and residents in Baltimore County remain safe.”

The FBI says the Internet Crime Complaint Center received notification of over 880,000 incidents amounting to approximately $12.5 billion in losses in 2023. Ransomware perpetrators received a staggering $1.1 billion in ransom payments.

“I am grateful for the longstanding, steadfast relationship the FBI has with the Baltimore County Police Department. By expanding our Cyber Task Force, we are making our law enforcement capabilities stronger and our communities safer,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Cyber touches nearly every investigation the FBI conducts. This partnership will enable us to work more closely together and build stronger cases. Simply put, we’ll be able to bring justice to more victims and help prevent more crime.”

“Keeping our residents safe is a top priority in Baltimore County and the growing threat of cybercrime is a problem that cannot — and will not – be ignored here,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Thanks to this partnership between our police department and the FBI, BCoPD officers will now be able to train with and join a federal cyber security task force that will enable them to solve cybercrimes at the local level, assist neighboring jurisdictions with investigations, and further enhance our commitment to public safety in every community.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski