MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – As part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Michigan State Police and its motor carrier officers are raising awareness to drivers across the state.
From January 12-16, MSP motor carrier officers are joining forces with national organizations to push awareness to the signs and proper responses to human trafficking.
Chad Schmitt is a motor carrier investigator for the Michigan State Police. He says the week aims to utilize officer’s day-to-day routines to spread this information as widely as possible.
“Our main goal is to educate, human trafficking is a lot more common than people may think,” he said. “This week in particular, all of our motor carrier officers that are out working the roads, they have the added task of informing drivers of what we’re looking for, and what to look out for.”
Each January, the MSP teams with national organizations like the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to promote the initiative. This includes presentations at truck stops and to victim advocate groups to explain what human trafficking is, what it looks like, and how to help combat it.
Human trafficking often involves transportation, but sometimes could remain domestic.
“A common misconception is that a person needs to move from place to place to be trafficked, but in fact, they can be trafficked out of their own homes sometimes,” explained Schmitt. “Maybe they speak for the victim, not allowing them to answer questions for themselves, they might be in control of their identification.”
If a suspicion is made, Schmitt says to reach out to law enforcement right away.
“Just make that phone call,” he said. “You can call 911, if its a non-emergency that’s no problem, we would always rather be called out and have it be nothing than to miss an opportunity to help somebody.”
Help can be given by the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, or by texting INFO to 233733.
