Human trafficking course kicks off in Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. — Local law enforcement officers are learning more about the fight against human trafficking as part of a three-day training course.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Edward L. Stanton III says the issue is a growing problem in our area.

“Sex trafficking these days is akin to modern day slavery,” Stanton said.

Stanton helped kick off the three-day human trafficking course Monday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. “It’s something that we’ve seen an uptick unfortunately here throughout this region with the I-40 corridor,” he said.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the training for dozens of federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

“This is not foreign people coming into our country,” Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute Executive Director Dennis Cusick said. “This is our daughters, our children, who are being prostituted.”

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr said the group will learn what to look for and how to investigate human trafficking. “Learn the current laws,” he said. “Learn how to do these cases and how to get them prosecuted.”

The class will cover a variety of topics including wiretaps, intelligence and trial support. “It is the second largest economic revenue generating crime next to drugs,” Cusick said.

Stanton said the goal is to keep kids and other victims from being trafficked across the country. “Make sure that every front-line officer and agent that they know what to look for in these types of cases,” he said.

Stanton encouraged people to contact law enforcement if they see something out of the ordinary. The course runs through Wednesday.