Sugar Land Police Sergeant recognized for keeping children safe online

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- The Texas Center for the Missing named Sugar Land police Sgt. Matt Levan "TCM Friend of the Month" for June.

Levan's selection recognizes his work to promote online safety and the arrests of numerous predators through his participation on the Houston-Metro Internet Safety Crimes Against Children Task Force.

As a certified internet safety trainer, Levan has trained hundreds of children and parents. He routinely conducts classes to educate parents about online dangers such as cyber bullying and sexual predators.

He has also hosted Houston Regional Amber Alert trainings for area law enforcement officers.

As a member of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, Levan works to apprehend countless child predators. He proactively investigates about 30 cases per year involving predators who share child pornography on the internet - cases that annually lead to more than 20 felony arrests.

"It is Sgt. Levan's personal mission to protect the children in the community," said Lt. Wayne Coleman, of the Criminal Investigations Division. "He is committed to making the department, our City and the lives of countless children and their families better every day through his work."

Levan started his service with SLPD more than 20 years ago. His commitment to his job as a supervisor makes him an exceptional instructor, mentor and investigator. He was named SLPD's "Officer of the Year" in 2014.

He coordinates the flag football team for the annual Fort Bend Holiday Bowl, a charity event benefiting the Fort Bend County Deputy Sheriff's Association's "Santa Behind the Badge" program, the Sugar Land Police Officers Association and Toys for Tots-Fort Bend.

Levan also helps organize softball teams and tournaments to create camaraderie among the City departments.

He is the instructor for the criminal investigations class for the Citizen's Police Academy, and he teaches an advanced child abuse investigation training course and a sexual assault and family violence investigation course. These courses are catered to law enforcement and non-law enforcement personnel like Child Protective Services and victims' advocates.

"I have known Sgt. Levan for years, and he is an exemplary person and officer," said Texas Center for the Missing CEO Beth Alberts. "We are happy to honor Sgt. Levan as our Friend of the Month! He has been a member of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children's task force since 2009 and proactively works sexual exploitation of children cases including child pornography and enticement cases. He also instructs the public on the dangers of the Internet by sharing our NetSmartz Internet Training with hundreds of local community members. He is truly a friend to our entire community!"