FBI, Police Visit School for Internet Safety Talk

Fifth graders at Covert and Wilson elementary schools were recently visited by an FBI agent and the Rockville Centre police commissioner, who shared insights about the appropriate use of technology.

FBI Special Agent Danielle Messineo and Commissioner Charles Gennario held the presentation in person at Wilson School’s auditorium for the students, while Riverside School students watched via the district’s vBrick system. Students then had the opportunity to ask questions in person or via email.

Topics included cyberbullying, Internet predator awareness, social media usage and the need for maintaining privacy setting on profiles.

Messineo has been a special agent with the FBI since 1995 and is presently assigned to the Long Island Innocent Images Task Force. This special task force is comprised of a combination of local and federal law enforcement partners who work in collaboration to investigate the online sexual exploitation of children. As the primary investigator for child pornography matters for more than a decade, Messineo works closely with Rockville Centre’s police in protecting local students.  

Since second grade, students have learned about internet safety through integrated units conducted in the STELLAR program.

“As they mature, children will make personal decisions about a host of concepts, including smart use of the Internet,” the district said in a release. “The program represented another building block in honing their internet safety skills and keeping our children safe.”

The event will soon be broadcast on The School Channel.