“Looking at images of children and toddlers – infants – being sexually molested and seeing the suffering without being able to rescue them immediately, is the toughest part of this job.”

– Lt. Glenn Lang, supervisor, Maine State Police, Computer Crimes Unit.

The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit is probably one of the least-known agencies in state government even though it’s one of the most important. This multi-jurisdictional police entity is designed primarily to assist other law enforcement agencies with the investigation and prosecution of computer crimes.

Computer crimes are those in which a computer is used as an instrument in committing crimes. What started out as primarily a tool for investigating “white collar” crimes soon turned into investigating illegal activities involving the downloading, disseminating and producing of child pornography. Rescuing children who are being sexually abused and arresting sexual predators is what the Computer Crimes Unit does every day.

Lt. Glenn Lang and his team, who work daily scouring evidence in an effort to rescue abused kids, will tell you that it’s bad enough to see videos and pictures of older children, 14- and 15-year-olds, being sexually assaulted, but seeing the most innocent of all – babies and young children – in those situations is extremely difficult. When the team finally rescues a child after a tedious and exhausting investigation, their reward is knowing that they saved an innocent child from continued torture and possible death.

During the past three years, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit has located and rescued 26 kids who were being used prominently as “sex stars” as part of the ubiquitous child pornography industry around the world. Maine can take great pride in these dedicated heroes who quietly do their job without notice.

So, based on the importance of what these champions do, one would assume that providing adequate funding by the administration and Legislature would be a no-brainer. Amazingly, for years securing operating funds for the Computer Crimes Unit in state budgets has been a constant challenge.

Lang has had to scramble to get federal grants and plead with state officials to get even miniscule funding as they struggle annually just to keep the doors open.

Why on earth would such an obvious funding priority even be questionable when kids’ lives lie in the balance?

That trend started to change last year when the governor and Legislature allocated additional money to the Computer Crimes Unit to help reduce an embarrassing backlog of evidence that, if available to prosecutors, would lead to the arrest of child molesters who were still on the street. However, underfunding is still a serious problem and the Legislature needs to step up and make it a top priority this year. There is no excuse for turning our backs on these tormented children and none should be tolerated.

Legislators need to answer the following question: What’s more important than providing funds needed to rescue children who are being sexually assaulted? Answer: Nothing.

One more thing. The Computer Crimes Unit desperately needs a mobile evidence van to do onsite interviews of suspected child predators, conduct forensic examinations of evidence and administer polygraph tests. Other states have such mobile units that play a key role in securing critical evidence, identifying potential child molesters, and gathering clues needed to locate the whereabouts of children who are being sexually abused.

The cost for this evidence van is $120,000. Remember, the total proposed state budget that is being worked on as we speak is $6.3 billion – that’s B as in billion. It all comes down to priorities and accountability.

The good news. Because of the recognition of the need for this evidence van and the positive affect it will have on the ability to rescue children, the public has taken notice and wants to help. To date more than $10,000 has been offered, with the promise of much more to come. I have committed 100 percent of the profits from the sale of my book, “The Evil and the Innocent,” toward the purchase of the van.

Now, the bad news. The Department of Public Safety says it can’t accept donations because law enforcement agencies aren’t allowed to solicit money. In this case, there is no solicitation – just caring people who desperately want to help. Regardless, we have to turn badly needed money away. So frustrating.

Bureaucracy demands attention. New legislation, LD 647, has been submitted that would allow donations for the specific purpose of purchasing the van.

Remember this: There are children being sexually abused and can’t understand what is happening or why. Their fear and pain cries out to us for help and for many of us, we don’t want to imagine how horrendous it must be for these innocent victims. We really don’t want to think about these kids because it cuts deep into our souls. But we must if we want to help, even though for us, too, it’s the toughest part of the job.

Bill Diamond of Windham served as District 12’s senator from 2004-2012, and is also a former Maine secretary of state.