By Chief Deputy Zachary L. Orr
Historically, rural sheriffs have campaigned on promises to focus on drugs, burglaries and theft. While those crimes remain critical, a new and rapidly growing threat is emerging: sextortion. This form of child exploitation often occurs quietly, leaving victims isolated and unsure where to turn. When agencies fail to recognize it, victims remain in the dark. It is time for rural sheriffs to reevaluate priorities and adjust policing philosophies to address this evolving threat.
Sextortion cases involving juveniles have increased rapidly and now affect rural agencies, many of which operate with limited resources. My experience investigating hundreds of sextortion cases through ICAC revealed gaps not only in technology knowledge, but also in training, policy, leadership and victim response.
For rural sheriffs, a sextortion case can quickly overwhelm an agency that is otherwise well prepared for traditional crimes. To meet this challenge, leaders must recognize key lessons these cases reveal. Here are five lessons every rural sheriff should understand before the next sextortion case lands on their desk.
1. Sextortion is far more than a cybercrime — it is a violent crime by proxy
Many agencies initially treat sextortion as an online fraud or harassment case. That mindset is a mistake. Sextortion is a form of child sexual exploitation that causes real psychological harm and can escalate quickly.
Victims are often threatened with public humiliation, social destruction or family exposure. Some offenders demand money, while others demand additional explicit images or videos. In multiple cases nationwide, sextortion has been directly linked to juvenile suicide attempts.
For rural sheriffs, the challenge is often cultural as much as operational. Smaller agencies may not see themselves as cybercrime units. Sheriffs must ensure their departments respond to sextortion with the same urgency and seriousness as in-person sexual exploitation cases. This includes immediate victim safety planning, family notification and rapid coordination with ICAC resources and prosecutors.
2. Early evidence preservation is critical and often missed
One of the most common investigative failures in sextortion cases is delay. Offenders frequently delete accounts, move to other platforms or change usernames within hours or days.
Rural agencies are especially vulnerable because they often rely on patrol officers or general investigators who may not immediately recognize sextortion indicators. Sheriffs should ensure their agencies have a clear protocol that includes:
- Immediate preservation requests to social media platforms
- Prompt documentation of usernames, URLs and screenshots
- Early coordination with prosecutors and ICAC partners
Waiting even a few days can result in lost IP logs, deleted accounts and untraceable evidence. Training patrol supervisors and on-call investigators to identify sextortion early is one of the most cost-effective steps a rural sheriff can take. The preservation process itself can be completed in minutes.
3. Platform limitations shape investigations more than most leaders realize
Not all social media platforms retain evidence the same way. Some keep extensive logs, while others retain very little. Encrypted messaging applications may provide limited or no message content.
Rural sheriffs must understand that sextortion investigations are often built on attribution rather than message content. Key realities include:
- Attribution often comes from IP logs, not message content
- Victim device evidence can be as important as platform returns
- Parallel investigations through internet service providers, payment platforms and associated social media accounts are often required
This underscores the need for training beyond basic report writing. Even with modest budgets, sheriffs can invest in regional partnerships and electronic evidence training, which significantly improve outcomes.
4. Victim and family communication matters as much as the investigation
Sextortion cases frequently involve frightened juveniles and overwhelmed parents who expect immediate results. In rural communities, where trust in law enforcement is personal and highly visible, poor communication can quickly erode confidence.
Sheriffs should ensure their investigators are trained to:
- Explain the investigative process in plain language
- Set realistic expectations regarding timelines and outcomes
- Reassure victims that they are not in trouble
- Provide referrals to counseling or victim advocacy resources
These cases are emotionally charged, and rural agencies may lack specialized victim services. Identifying regional resources in advance and developing a communication plan costs little but yields substantial benefits.
5. Sextortion cases expose leadership, training and budget gaps
Sextortion cases test an agency’s readiness more than almost any other modern crime. They quickly reveal whether policies are current, whether supervisors know when to ask for help and whether command staff understand modern exploitation trends.
Rural sheriffs should ask themselves:
- Do our policies clearly address online exploitation?
- Do supervisors know when to involve ICAC or state partners?
- Are investigators trained in basic electronic evidence handling?
- Have we budgeted for training or task force participation?
Limited budgets do not excuse a lack of preparation. Regional training, task force partnerships and clear internal procedures often matter more than expensive technology.
Final thoughts
Sextortion cases are not going away. They will continue to evolve, target younger victims and cross jurisdictional boundaries. For rural sheriffs, preparation is less about having specialized units and more about knowing who to call, what steps to take first and how to lead when resources are limited.
Leadership, training priorities and early decision-making determine whether a sextortion case overwhelms an agency or is handled professionally and effectively.
Additional Police1 resources
- How to investigate sextortion cases
- The impact of sextortion on a family, community and small-town police department
Learn more about sextortion
About the author
Zachary L. Orr is chief deputy with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois and is assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He has more than 27 years of law enforcement experience and has investigated numerous sextortion and child exploitation cases. He holds a master’s degree in public safety administration from Western Illinois University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School for Police Staff and Command.
