The United States Secret Service has award two Queensland detectives the highest award available to foreigners for their efforts in saving two young children from a sexual predator.
The detectives from the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) Task Force Argos received Director’s Award for aiding in the rescue of two children, aged two years and five-weeks.
In a statement, the QPS said the Director’s Award was the United States Secret Service’s highest award given to individuals or agencies outside of the US.
“It is only given in circumstances in which an organisation or individual has given extraordinary support to the Secret Service.”
Argos Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson said the offending was first identified by the task force in mid-October 2023, when officers identified a male in an encrypted online platform sharing Child Exploitation Material (CEM) depicting the sexual abuse of a baby girl.
Detective Inspector Donaldson said investigations by Argos identified further CEM depicting the sexual abuse of a second baby girl.
“The extent of the abuse was so horrific that medical evidence suggested one of the children would not survive her injuries if she was not located quickly,” he said.
“Over a period of several days law enforcement across the globe worked tirelessly to identify the offender and rescue the children from further harm.”
Detective Inspector Donaldson said on October 24, 2023 officers from the US Secret Service, US Homeland Security Investigations and local police executed a search warrant at an Ohio address, rescuing both children and arresting a 34-year-old man.
He said the man was sentenced to 100 years in prison in May this year.
“Whilst the officers themselves are proud to receive such a prestigious award, the identification of the victim children and their removal from harm was the greatest reward these officers can receive.
“This arrest highlights QPS’ commitment to protecting vulnerable children and bringing perpetrators of these disturbing crimes to justice, wherever they may be.”
Detective Inspector Donaldson said law enforcement agencies shared intelligence on a daily basis.
“Everything you do online leaves a trace, and our detectives will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to identify and prosecute offenders.”
