Feds conduct Human Trafficking Awareness Training in Florida

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) on Aug. 23 conducted Human Trafficking Awareness Training for state, local and Tribal law enforcement.

The training, which took place in Homestead, Florida, provided law enforcement with in-depth information on what human trafficking is and the many indicators they may observe in industries known for human trafficking, and included case studies, videos and student-centered activities. Hosted by the Homestead Police Department, the training was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security departments including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and FLETC.

“Delivering this comprehensive victim-centric training for participants to identify the warning signs of human trafficking effectively continues to be a top priority for FLETC,” FLETC Deputy Director Kai Munshi said. “FLETC’s commitment to combatting human trafficking, along with other participating organizations including the law enforcement community, provides a unique opportunity to increase awareness about human trafficking while discussing the importance of law enforcement having the tools and knowledge necessary to help safeguard our communities.”

The training was attended by more than four dozen law enforcement officers from 15 different agencies. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) gave welcome remarks via video presentations.

“The Homestead Police Department welcomes the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to the City of Homestead to provide much-needed training in human trafficking to local Law Enforcement,” said Captain Fernando Morales of the Homestead Police Department. “Human Trafficking is growing at an alarming rate. This training provides local law enforcement with the tools to identify the signs of human trafficking and assists in the investigation along with resources for victims of human trafficking.

Since 2009 FLETC has been training law enforcement officers about the signs and indicators of human trafficking, incorporating its awareness training into its basic programs for all new federal law enforcement officers in 2015. More than 15,000 individuals have participated in HTAT program training since its inception.