July 17. California. The Union. Identifying sex trafficking indicators prepares law enforcement on patrol.
The Nevada County District Attorney’s Office hosted a free training program designed to educate local law enforcement, first responders, and criminal justice personnel with a comprehensive approach to combat sex trafficking…
Expert trainers highlighted the need for each division of justice to understand laws and legislation associated with trafficking charges. There are times that potential victims need care at the scene, so first responders and law enforcement were encouraged to understand victimology. “The training further encourages a comprehensive trauma-informed approach to assisting victims of trafficking,” according got Lori Nunnik, Senior Victim Advocate, Nevada County District Attorney’s Office…
Rick Geiss served with the CHP (California Highway Patrol) for 21 years and was assigned to the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force in 2019, where he was tasked with investigating pimping, pandering, sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Geiss reviewed definitions of labor trafficking, which is forced labor or debt bondage, as well as commercial sex trafficking which was the primary focus of the training…
“I tip my hat to the county and the chief (Nevada City Police Chief Dan Foss) for bringing this in their community,” said Nichole King, former Vice Detective with Vacaville Police Department. “Nevada County doesn’t seem to have a lot of crazy crime, but the fact that their leaders are recognizing that this is an important topic, and that it does touch their community, even kind of municipal level, that they’re willing to take the time to educate their officers and prosecutors on it and expose them to it to encourage these investigations means a lot.”
Geographically, Vacaville is in the “middle of the mix”, King said. Near main highways and airports, in between the Bay Area, Sacramento and not far from Reno, King says, “If it’s not happening in our town it’s passing through.”
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