Operation Angel Summit Remembers Gabbi Doolin and Enlightens Students About Child Exploitation

By Don Meador,
Staff Writer

Allen County-Scottsville High School (AC-SHS) students—who opted to participate—learned about the dangers of child exploitation during a 90-minute assembly at the high school on November 14. Entitled Operation Angel Summit, the program was presented by the US Secret Service in collaboration with the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General. The aim of Operation Angel Summit was to share information which would prevent tragedy from striking innocent lives—as was the case a decade ago in Scottsville.

In November of 2015, an unthinkable tragedy shocked Allen County. Seven-year-old Gabbi Doolin, a second grader at the Allen County Primary Center, was abused and murdered while attending a youth football game at AC-SH.

“Ten years ago, we lost a part of our innocence here in Allen County,” noted Allen County Judge-Executive Dennis Harper in his opening remarks to students Friday. “Thanks to the Doolin family and their diligence, they did not let that happen in vain. The fight continues to keep people safe. As a father and grandfather, I hope and pray we can do everything we need to do to keep children safe. And, it’s up to you to do that.”

In the years that followed, state officials began to develop a program—with input and cooperation from the Doolin family—that would serve to educate young people about the dangers facing the youth of today.

“In 2019, we had Operation Gabbi Doolin in Louisville,” explained Special Assistant Rick Nord from the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. “At that time, I met with Amy Graves, Brain Doolin, Alex and Chance and we received permission to honor Gabbi. I was working with a great team of detectives, law enforcement, investigators, counselors, prosecutors, and volunteers. We were very good at predator sting operations but we were also teaching as much as we could to prevent sexual exploitation. Exploitation is when someone takes advantage of you. It may feel like it’s to your benefit but it’s really to theirs. It can be a person or it can be online. Our group started looking for ways to educate large groups of young people.”

Students learned that the Operation Angel Summit logo was created six years ago as a way to honor Gabbi. Nord explained the image stemmed from a remark from Gabbi’s sibling who said, “She loved butterflies and now she has her wings.” The logo also includes pink, Gabbi’s favorite color. In addition to the logo on display, a seat in the auditorium was reserved for her.

In 2019, the Nord’s team included US Attorney Russell Coleman. Now Coleman is the Kentucky Attorney General and continues the effort to stop child exploitation. In his remarks last week, Coleman drove home the point that today’s youth—even young people in a town the size of Scottsville—face an enemy seeking to take advantage of one’s innocence.

“There is a darkness focused on targeting youth,” Coleman told students. “Ten years ago, the darkness came to this campus and claimed the life of a precious little girl. You are facing predators that are seeking to exploit you for pleasure, for money. They seek to target you. Some of you in this room are talking (online) to someone you have met on a game and someone you have not really seen. It’s not who you think it is. This is reality. Someone in this room is being targeted. That’s what the stats tell us, that’s what the data tells us. I think you know what I am talking about. It’s so easy to stumble across someone who is trolling for you.”

Coleman stressed that those who target children and youth are the predators—the ones at fault. He stressed that help is available to anyone who is or has been a victim.

“I want to be clear, “Coleman added. “Predators are trying to make you the victim. There is no shame in you coming to tell a parent or a guidance counselor or a trusted teacher. We are losing young people like you because the shame is so great. They are taking their own lives because they don’t want to share that they made a bad call. We all make mistakes. Your teachers and your counselors and the people here today want to help you. We want to come alongside you. You are not alone.”

Following Coleman’s remark, US Secret Service Technical Specialist and ambassador to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cody Bennett presented a series of slides to educate students on a wide range of topics related to exploitation. Also presenting was Tammy Hopper from National Safe Place, explaining how their organization strides to provide safe places for children and youth to go to if help is needed.

The program also included two special speakers. The first was a 21-year-old victim who shared with students her first-hand story. To do so, she read from the victim’s impact statement she had shared in court during the trial of her assailant. Her story included how she had met the predator online, the ways conversations progressed, culminating with a meeting, and assault.

The second speaker was Gabbi’s mother, Amy Graves. In her short presentation, Graves spoke to the students as a mom and as if Gabbi was in the audience. She offered words of advice while fighting back tears.

“If Gabbi were alive, she would be 17,” Graves said. “Let me share a few thoughts with Gabbi and you. I miss you each day, Gabbi. Thankfully, I have found a way to channel my pain, not in anger and confusion but helping people to protect themselves, and avoid the pain I have gone through. Never hesitate to say no. If you feel it, say it. If you feel uncomfortable with any situation or person, say no. If it doesn’t feel right, its probably not. I want everyone in this auditorium to live out their life so please protect yourself by saying no. Saying no will most likely be to someone that you know. Stranger-danger is only five percent of abuse cases and that means 95 percent of abuse cases are orchestrated by someone you know or someone you may trust. I need you all to say no even to someone you may have been taught to trust. Trust your gut. Also, if you see a friend headed in the wrong direction, tell them. They may be upset with you at the time but do it anyway. Be proud and surround yourself with people who see how special you are. Be proud of the fantastic person you are. If an adult makes you feel unworthy, walk away. If another kid makes you feel unworthy, walk away.”

Graves also explained how—in just 10 years—social media has changed in so many ways—opening the door for new ways to search for victims.

“Over the last 10 years more and more people have been using social media,” Graves noted. “If something you see or something you read makes you feel less about yourself, then turn it off. If someone asks for inappropriate pictures of you, they don’t care about the real you. Turn it off.”

In closing, Graves challenged the students to help one another stay safe.

“Gabbi is not here today but you are and I see you and I care about you,” Graves concluded “Gabbi’s legacy continues through all of us by helping each person in this auditorium to protect themselves and each other. Together we can stay safe.”

The program concluded with a special picture reveal. The NCMEC used artificial intelligence to create for the Doolin family a picture of the way Gabbi would look today.

Operation Angel Summit was not only for AC-SHS students. District IT officials worked with Bigscreen Productions from Nashville to stream the program. Schools across the Green River Regional Education Cooperative (GRREC) were made aware of the live stream and offered the opportunity to share in their schools.