Union County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Online Safety Classes for Students and Parents

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up efforts to protect local youth from online dangers with a series of educational classes led by Sgt. Marc Pilote, the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Officer. The initiative, aimed at students and parents, addresses the growing threat of online predators and other digital risks facing children today.

On Oct. 6, Sgt. Pilote will conduct online safety classes for students at Union County Middle School, High School, and Woody Gap School during school hours. The sessions will focus on teaching young people how to navigate the internet safely, emphasizing awareness of risks such as cyber predators, inappropriate content, and sharing personal information online.

For the first time, Sgt. Pilote is also offering a dedicated session for parents. The parent-focused class will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Union County Fine Arts Center. Topics will include cyber safety, the dangers of sharing personal information online, sexting, online predators, Georgia laws, and awareness about drugs, vaping, and alcohol.

Sgt. Pilote, who has dedicated much of his career to tracking down child predators, brings extensive expertise to the program. The Union County School System is partnering with the sheriff’s office to promote the initiative, and parents may have received notifications about the opportunity for their children to participate.

The sheriff’s office encourages all parents to attend the evening session to learn how to better protect their children in an increasingly connected world.