Police officers across Iowa, US, receiving human trafficking training
Hope for Justice’s newly-formed investigative hub team in Iowa is now training police officers from hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state.
David Gonzalez
Our team is helping to deliver the training, which is set to be a lifeline to trafficking victims, to all officers who attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (Johnston).
Alongside the Academy’s instructors, we are delivering vital specialist training on all aspects of human trafficking, from how to spot the signs that someone is being exploited, to how to investigate and help combat this heinous crime.
The move heralds significant progress for our new team, and is a bold step forward in the wider fight against human trafficking in the area, as increased awareness within law enforcement should see more victims being identified, and more perpetrators being brought to justice.
The training of law enforcement is also particularly important in a rural area such as Iowa, which has several areas that people could be trafficked into, including labor exploitation.
David Gonzalez, Senior Investigator for the Midwest Region at Hope for Justice, said: “It’s an honor to be partnering with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to provide human trafficking training to law enforcement officers.
“In our ongoing fight against human trafficking, it’s vital that we get the word out to our front line law enforcement about the potential signs, how to respond, and how to investigate human trafficking. We also want to let police officers know how we can and will help them in their efforts, and share with them how we prevent exploitation, rescue survivors, restore their lives, and reform society.
“Partnering with the Academy, and working closely together with police officers, will certainly help transform the lives of many more victims of human trafficking.”
