With the help of a $450,000 federal grant the Clearwater Police were
able to spur a task force against human trafficking in 2006. It has kept
busy since.
In July Largo Police charged Joseph Lallier with human trafficking and possession of narcotics after
he called police to report a domestic disturbance. Turns out he
controlled his female victim by giving her prescription medication in
exchange for sexual favors, according to Largo Police.Human trafficking cases like this and those on a larger scale are happening often enough that law enforcement officials designated a task force to end it.
With the help of a federal grant the Clearwater Police were able to spur a task force against human trafficking in 2006. It has kept busy since.
The Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking has made 104 arrests for human trafficking which include 37 convictions as of January.
According to the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, this crime involves the commercial use and exploitation of people who are forced into the sex trade or other forms of servitude for the gain of another. It may involve “forced prostitution and pornography, involuntary labor, servitude and debt bondage.”
One issue is that many victims of human trafficking don't know they are being victimized. “If you were robbed at the ATM, you’d give the information to the officer and go back home and have a support mechanism in place,” said Lt. George Koder of the Clearwater Police Department and a task force member. “Most of the victims we come across don’t have that. They don’t realize they are victims.”
Koder explained that trafficking victims are either brought into the country illegally or they are runaways who might believe the situations they find themselves in are better than what they escaped from.
“The victims aren’t going to call 911,” he said. “The teen girls aren’t going to call the police. The undocumented immigrants aren’t going to call. We need the public to understand what’s going on to protect their own kids.”
Clearwater Police started the task force with a $450,000 federal grant October 2006. The mission of the task force is to identify and rescue victims in the Tampa Bay area.
If you suspect human trafficking on your street call (727) 562-4917.
Learn more:
What: Human Trafficking quarterly meeting
When: 1 p.m. Thursday (July 14)
Where: Pathways Community Church, 801 Seminole Bv. Largo 33770
Call: 727-562-4433 or e-mail Carol.McAnally@MyClearwater.com or visit http://www.catfht.org
Human Trafficking In Pinellas County:
2011: Joseph Lallier, of Largo, was arrested and charged with human trafficking and possession of narcotics after he called police to report a domestic disturbance July 21. Lallier, 63, controlled his victim by giving her prescription medication in exchange for sexual favors, according to Largo Police.
2010: The FBI raided homes in Largo and Clearwater where they find 27 people of Hispanic and Asian descent living in cramped quarters. The victims were being forced to work at a local restaurant. However, no arrests were made.
2009: After a two month investigation, several women are rescued from a human trafficking ring in Treasure Island in May. The women were subject to mental and physical abuse and forced to dance at various nightclubs.
Source: Largo, FL Patch
No comments:
Post a Comment