Sheriff's Office hires deputy to investigate cyber crimes targeting kids

DOVER - The Strafford County Sheriff's Office announced today they have hired a longtime lawman to coordinate investigations in Strafford County and throughout New Hampshire dealing with Internet Crimes Against Children.

Deputy Steven Bourque, who took on the position late last month, has a long history in the law enforcement profession having begun his career with the Somersworth Police Department in 1989. He was hired by the Rochester Police Department in 2005 and retired in 2018. Bourque, a Strafford County resident, also served in the Air Force.

His duties will include the following:

1. Centralization of Cyber Tips received through The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the county as a whole, and to offer direct assistance in the response to those reports for local agencies through the NH-ICAC Task Force.
2. Performing pro-active and reactive operations related to Internet Crimes against Children, both within the county and throughout the state in conjunction with NH-ICAC, as well as other affiliate ICAC Task Forces around the country. The NH-ICAC office conducts both reactive and pro-active operations throughout the year on a constant basis working together with local, state, and federal agencies to combine resources to address Internet Crimes against Children.
3. Providing technical assistance to regional agencies with both ICAC related cases as well as other criminal cases involving digital evidence. - Criminal offenses today, quite often involve digital evidence in many forms from online social media, handheld devices, and traditional pc/laptop devices. The mission of the task force also includes assisting agencies with their needs in this area.
4. Public awareness and education.

Strafford County Sheriff David Dubois said the position was made possible as a result of cooperation between his office, the Strafford County Commissioners, The Strafford County Attorney and New Hampshire's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

"We are pleased to be able to provide this additional resource to the communities of Strafford County," Dubois said.