Lincoln – Yesterday marked significant participation by law enforcement in the series of “Beyond the Basics: Investigating Child Abuse” trainings hosted by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. The Panhandle training was held in Scottsbluff with over forty law enforcement members from the surrounding regional area. Police departments and sheriffs offices from every county in the Panhandle were represented at the training.

Attorney General Doug Peterson opened the session that was then lead by AGO Child Abuse Investigator Kerry Crosby along with Assistant Attorney General Doug Warner. CAPstone Child Advocacy Center Director, Holly Brandt was present to lead a session. CAPstone provides services to all the counties located in the Panhandle region.

“The increase of child abuse in Nebraska is of great concern to Attorney General Peterson,” stated Kerry Crosby, AGO Investigator and training coordinator, “Our office has given high priority to training law enforcement across the state”.

The League of Nebraska Municipalities supported and advocated for training not only for statewide, regional sessions but for support materials including DVDs and modules providing child abuse investigative training for law enforcement.

The project materials were completed last fall and are administered through the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC) in Grand Island. Materials are distributed and made available by the League of Nebraska Municipalities or through the Attorney General’s Office for certified law enforcement only.

Additional trainings began in late 2015 and will continue the reminder of 2016 to regionally serve law enforcement across Nebraska.