Toronto cop and Bill Gates meet for the first time
Detective Sergeant Paul Gillespie emailed Microsoft Chairman two years ago asking for help to combat the growing problem of online child exploitation
Washington, DC - Wednesday March 15, 2006 - Detective Sergeant Paul Gillespie, Officer in Charge of the Child Exploitation Section of the Toronto Police Service's Sex Crimes Unit, met face-to-face with Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation for the first time today in a private meeting at Microsoft's annual Government Leaders Forum.
Frustrated by the lack of technology available to help solve crimes involving the online sexual exploitation of children, Detective Sergeant Gillespie emailed Bill Gates two years ago asking for help. In response, Bill Gates asked Microsoft Canada Co. to work with law enforcement to develop the technology that police needed. The Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS) is a result of this collaboration. The CETS tool enables law enforcement to work together seamlessly on investigations, regardless of jurisdiction, to combat those who use the Internet to sexually exploit children.
"Detective Sergeant Gillespie's e-mail made it clear to me that law enforcement didn't have the technology needed to effectively confront sexual exploitation of children on the Web," said Microsoft Corporation Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates. "It was an honor to meet Paul today. He's truly been a leader in protecting the safety of children online and convincing government, law enforcement and the private sector that we all need to work together to tackle this important problem."
"It was incredibly gratifying to meet Bill Gates today - he made the Child Exploitation Tracking System possible. We now have the technology needed to collaborate on child exploitation investigations around the world," said Detective Sergeant Gillespie, Toronto Police Service. "When it comes to investigating crimes against children, CETS is helping shift the power out of the hands of the predators and back to the police."
CETS is a database housed within the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC) that serves as an information repository and an investigative tool in law enforcement's fight against the online sexual exploitation of children. Most police services in Canada that have a sex crimes unit are using CETS. CETS has been instrumental in solving a number of cases both in Canada and internationally.
Microsoft has invested more than $4.5 million to date in developing the tracking system and creating the Centre of Excellence that assists in the ongoing deployment of CETS in Canada and around the world.
About Toronto Police Service
Established in 1957 as the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force, the Toronto Police Service as it's now known has grown to 7,200 uniform and civilian members. The Toronto Police Service is the largest municipal police service in Canada and the fifth largest in North America. The Sex Crimes Unit was first established in 1989 as the Sexual Assault Squad and is now responsible for various investigations including the Child Exploitation Section.
About Microsoft Canada Co.
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca
©2006 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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