The Bikers Against Predators Facebook page continues to confront potential “predators” every week. InkFreeNews photo provided by Bikers Against Predators Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series.

By Jasmine Morehead
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE—To recap from part one, the Facebook page Bikers Against Predators was created in February 2021 after the leader “Boots” found out a “predator” was messaging his daughter. In the last several months they have confronted close to 80 potential “predators.”

Despite not being an agent of law enforcement or being able to push for charges they do make sure to get the information they collect to as many individuals as possible.

“Our posts reach 130,000 people,” Boots said. “I think that’s bigger than charges, in my opinion.”

The reason the organization shares photos, names and locations is so individuals who follow the Facebook page know where to be aware and of who.

“Posting their pictures brings that awareness and then the location so you know where they’re from, you know where they are at,” Boots explained.

While the individuals may make comments the group is lying or they can’t do what they are doing, the group has never had legal action against them.

“My office has not received any criminal complaints of Bikers Against Predators,” said Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton.

The group has decided not to remove any content they post. The only way it could potentially happen is if the individuals they caught sought professional help.

“No videos ever come down off our page, as far as pictures or live catches. Unless the individual shows proof of completed treatment,” Boots said. “If they show us completed treatment from a licensed psychiatrist we will pull the videos down. No one’s ever done that. Nobody has ever completed treatment, no one has ever shown us that they are getting treatment.”

Some who have had family members posted or don’t like the way the group handles the information state “this isn’t the right way to handle these cases.”

“We did it the right way once, when it was my child. We did it the right way and nothing happened. So, what is the right way?” Boots asks.

While the group does not handle things the way law enforcement does or the way some individuals believe they should, he said the majority of officers he has come in contact with share their support of the organization spreading awareness of this very real issue.

“We have a lot of support from law enforcement,” Boots said. “In a way I think, law enforcement in general, they don’t dislike what we do. They do think we are bringing awareness, even though maybe the legal side isn’t where it needs to be.”

Despite having support from some law enforcement, Hampton wanted to restate they are not partnered with law enforcement and are a separate entity.

“Bikers Against Predators is not an agent of law enforcement. Law enforcement will not assist Bikers Against Predators,” Hampton said.

In addition, despite comments stating the group “hinders investigations” that is not what Hampton had to say.

“Bikers versus Predators has not interfered with an ongoing police investigation,” he stated.

All in all this group consists of ordinary individuals with lives outside of this Facebook page.

“I just do this in my free time, I am a father, I have a full-time job, everybody in my organization works full-time. This is just something that we do when we get off work and do in our free time,” he explained.

He shared they do not do this for fame or recognition, this is to keep the families and children in the community safe.

“People call us heroes,” Boots said. “I love what I do for my community, for my children and the children of the community.”