Inside ICE: The work, demands of Manitoba RCMP’s child exploitation unit

Officers in the Manitoba RCMP's internet child exploitation - or ICE - unit deal with difficult and disturbing content on a daily basis.

They’re stories that are alarming and hard to digest, and have been frequently making headlines in Manitoba: disturbing cases of sexual abuse, exploitation, and sextortion targeting children online.

It’s alarming material that officers in the Manitoba RCMP’s internet child exploitation — or ICE — unit must witness in detail and on a daily basis.

“There is an emotional toll this type of work does take,” Const. Izza Mian with the Manitoba RCMP ICE unit told Global News and 680 CJOB.

But it’s also work that is critically important to these officers.

“The work is so rewarding,” Const. Kirandeep Hira said. “To me, it’s important to help children who are so vulnerable and protect children who are so vulnerable.”

Seven officers work in the Manitoba RCMP’s ICE unit, investigating crimes against children that occur online or in a digital setting. The officers are prepared and trained for witnessing the disturbing material they are required to deal with.

“We are exposed, it’s called ‘gentle exposure’, to some of the material that we are obviously going to be looking at and categorizing in the future,” Const. Grant Kummen said. “And we have to make sure that that’s something we are OK with looking at, dealing with — if it’s something that our psyche is going to allow us to continue dealing with.

“Basically, they watch your reaction while you’re reacting to the imagery as well, and if you turn green and start throwing up all over the place, basically this isn’t something that’s probably built for you. But if you’re able to look at it sort of with a detached expression, then it’s something you can move forward with.”