Close

Missing and Exploited Children Task Force

The Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF) spearheads multi-agency operations, including federal, state, and local law enforcement, aimed at finding and recovering sexually exploited children and apprehending child predators.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before adulthood. It’s because of this staggering statistics that MECTF runs “Net Nanny Operations” across the state. During these multi-day operations, undercover detectives lure in would be predators and arrest them before any exploitation or harm could be done to children.

Child exploitation includes:

  • Possession, Manufacture, and Distribution of Child Pornography
  • Enticement of Children for Sexual Acts
  • Child Prostitution
  • Child Sex Tourism
  • Child Sexual Molestation

Tips for Parents 

  • Know where your children are at all times
  • Know your children’s friends, their parents, addresses, and all phone numbers
  • Be alert to teens and/or other adults over-interested in your children
  • Teach your children to trust their feelings – it’s okay to say NO
  • Be careful when choosing providers for your children
  • Be involved and spend time with your children when they are online
  • Never give out personal information in chat rooms or forums
  • Tell your children to let you know when they receive obscene or suggestive messages

Donations

By donating to the MECTF, your personal information is public information and may be subject to public disclosure requests.

In order to continue to fund these operations, MECTF recently rolled out a new donation page that allows the public to give monetary gifts online. All proceeds go directly to the identification and safe recovery of exploited children, the investigation of those that sexually exploit children, and successful apprehension and prosecution. This is an opportunity for the public to get involved and help stop the sexual exploitation of children in our state.

This new donation page allows the public to become part of the solution and make a difference in their community. Having the ability to accept donations that go directly towards saving children and holding the people who victimize them accountable is huge. Fighting child exploitation is a hard job but the outcome is worth it every single time. These donations will help us continue this fight.

The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force is a state law enforcement agency governed by RCW 13.60.110, and not designated as a 501 (c)(3) charity. Please consult with your tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service to determine if your donation is tax exempt.

Contact Us

Washington State Patrol – MECTF
Investigative Assistance Division
PO Box 42634
Olympia, WA
98504-2634
Phone: (360) 704-2397
Fax: (360) 704-2973
Email: MECTF@wsp.wa.gov