The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation last week denouncing human trafficking in the county. There have been no reported cases in the county, but the supervisors are taking no chances by signing the resolution and reinforcing their resolve to halt the practice in the county.
Iowa Department of Transportation Officer Joel Nichols encourages everyone to keep a close eye out locally for this kind of activity. He cited resources that were available for people to learn the signs that trafficking is going on.
Nichols stated the victims can usually be found in truck stops, gas stations, convenience stores, or even grocery stores. They are generally accompanied by someone seemingly in authority to them and are usually very scared or unsure of the situation. This is why truckers have become an invaluable asset.
Regardless of who the tipster may be, it serves as a tremendous asset to law enforcement and a life saver to the victims.
The most important thing is to not get directly involved in the situation according to Chris Calloway of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
