On January 4, 2010, President Obama issued a proclamation naming January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This followed a 2007 Senate resolution naming January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers (CVEOs) and Motor Carrier Inspectors (MCIs) are teaming up with officers from neighboring states to raise awareness of human trafficking.
During the week of January 22-26, Indiana State Police officers will join their colleagues with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police and Michigan State Police, along with the organization Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to educate motorists about the signs of human trafficking and to enforce laws that crack down on traffickers.
“The Indiana State Police Department has been working with Truckers Against Trafficking since 2015. The goal of this week-long, multi-state human trafficking initiative is to raise awareness and educate individuals in positions to observe human trafficking taking place. Individuals such as commercial motor vehicle drivers, public transportation company employees, rest area attendants and truck stop employees are a force multiplier that can act as the eyes and ears on Indiana’s highways,” said Major Jon Smithers, Commander of the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.
To report human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text BeFree to 233733. For more information about TAT, visit truckersagainsttrafficking.org.