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Wilfredo (Wil) Hernandez, a former law enforcement officer with over 33 years of service, has dedicated a significant portion of his career to investigating crimes against children, particularly those involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wil’s extensive experience includes roles in multiple task forces and supervisory positions within cybercrime units, earning him recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for his exceptional service.

Throughout his career, Wil faced the harrowing task of viewing and analyzing CSAM, an experience that left profound marks on his mental health. “I never been as impacted or affected as dealing with sex crimes against children and seeing those images,” he recalls. Wil’s motivation stemmed from a deeply personal place: “What kept me going for so many years was the fact that I have five children of my own. I thought, for every one of these individuals that I can take off the street, I am protecting my child and somebody else’s child.”

Despite his dedication, the exposure to such traumatic content took a toll. Wil describes the disturbing nature of the material: “This material is very… I mean, it’s very rough to see. I remember very distinctly the images, especially the videos, where there’d be sounds and you would hear the crying and the screaming of this poor child being abused.” 

To cope, Wil and his colleagues adopted strategies like turning off the sound in videos, prioritizing team building activities away from work, and relying on digital forensics techniques to minimize direct exposure.

Research on Mental Health and CSAM Exposure in Law Enforcement

Academic studies corroborate Wil’s experiences, highlighting the severe mental health challenges faced by officers who investigate CSAM. Research indicates that these officers are at high risk for traumatic stress due to the nature of their work, which involves frequent exposure to graphic and distressing material. 

A 2022 study of ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) commanders and staff revealed that only 62% of agencies provided confidential mental health services for their officers. Additionally, nearly half of the respondents emphasized the need for more wellness resources.

The distressing content of CSAM can lead to secondary trauma, with symptoms including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and emotional numbing. Officers often find it difficult to maintain emotional distance from the victims, exacerbating their psychological burden. The study also noted that officers exposed to CSAM had higher rates of depression and sleep deprivation compared to the general population.

Insights from a Psychologist

Wil’s wife, Dr. Norda Hernandez, a psychologist with over 40 years of experience, played a crucial role in recognizing and addressing the mental health symptoms in her husband. “For officers who investigate and view CSAM, prioritizing mental, emotional and physical wellness is non-negotiable,” she asserts. 

Dr. Hernandez observed signs of PTSD in Wil, and encouraged him to implement self-care strategies.

Symptoms of PTSD and Coping Strategies

Officers exposed to CSAM may experience a range of PTSD symptoms, such as:

• Intrusive thoughts
• Changes in cognition or mood
• Emotional arousal
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse or overuse
• Reluctance to interact with children
• Reduced physical and emotional intimacy with partners
• A heightened awareness of the potential presence of child sex abusers in their social networks
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Sleep deprivation/insomnia
• GI upset
• Severe fatigue
• Depressed immune response
• Nausea
• Withdrawal from social activities
  

To mitigate these effects, several strategies are recommended:

• Officer Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Mandatory mental health check-ins/support (to reduce stigma)
• Free and confidential mental health sessions (group or individual) with a practitioner
• Family therapy
• Exercise
• Dedicated breaks from viewing CSAM
• CSAM wellness focused educational content at staff meetings
• CSAM prep and education prior to working cases
• Mental health trainings and tips
• Opt-out policies for CSAM cases
• Part-time assignments or periodic reassignments to limit CSAM exposure (rotations or time-limited assignments)
• Peer support (e.g. team building activities, non-judgemental listening)
• Stress-relieving accommodations in the workplace (e.g. gym equipment, televisions, communal eating spaces)
• Time to decompress after work
• Flexible work schedules / time off work
• Muting sound on CSAM videos when watching
• Not watching CSAM videos when listening to audio
• Opportunities to debrief with other CSAM investigators
• Regular updates about the impact of CSAM investigations (see impact of the work)

Resources for Mental Health Support

The mental health impact of investigating CSAM is significant, but with the right support and strategies, officers can find ways to cope and continue their essential work. 

If you’re viewing this material for work and need support, start with your agency or your ICAC commander. Find out if your agency has an Officer Wellness Program or an Employee Assistance Program that could provide you with mental health resources and support. The U.S. Department of Justice also offers mental and physical health resources, training materials and support for officers.

Immediate help is available by contacting: 

• Your primary care physician
• Suicide and Crisis Hotline – Dial 988
• Crisis Text Line – Text “BLUE” to 741741
• Copline – Call 1-800-267-5463
  
  A resource that officers can turn to if they need help dealing with emotionally-charged issues such as depression and alcoholism. The hotline is answered 24/7 by retired law enforcement officers.

By prioritizing mental health and wellness, law enforcement officers can protect themselves while continuing to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

About Wil Hernandez:

Wilfredo (Wil) Hernandez is a Product Specialist/Technical Sales Engineer at MSAB (Micro Systemation AB), the world leader in the provision of forensically secure tools for the extraction and analysis of data from mobile devices.

He has deep experience as an investigator and trainer using mobile forensics. He joined MSAB in 2015 after retiring from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and over 33 distinguished years in law enforcement. 

His path to the rank of Captain with the Florida Attorney General Office – Child Predator Cyber Crime Unit included assignments on multiple task forces investigating Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), supervisory roles in Cyber High Tech and Cybercrime Units, teaching courses for NW3C and FBI CART. He was also recognized as “Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida and by the FBI for Exceptional Service in the Public Interest for his role in training multiple Federal agencies on how to conduct investigations using the Internet.

About Dr. Norda Hernandez:

Dr. Norda Hernandez has been a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for over 40 years. She specializes in helping children, adolescents and especially a Law Enforcement Officer who investigated these difficult cases for many years.