For the first time in Colorado history, every new law enforcement recruit is required to train in identifying, investigating and responding to human trafficking.

A new mandate requires every new law enforcement recruit in the state to undergo specialized training on identifying and responding to human trafficking. This initiative builds on years of work by trafficking teams, units, and councils, and aims to address the challenge of recognizing trafficking cases, which often occur in plain sight but are easily missed without proper training.

Officials highlight that the training not only helps officers identify potential trafficking cases but also equips them to interact with victims in a trauma-informed manner, fostering trust and encouraging disclosure. Since the creation of a dedicated human trafficking unit in Denver, the number of cases identified has increased significantly, demonstrating the impact of increased awareness and education. The approach is being recognized as a model, with Colorado considered ahead of many other regions in its efforts.

Training mandated for recruits responding to human trafficking

Human trafficking is one of those crimes that a lot of people thinks basically hides in the shadows. When really, sometimes it's just right in front of us. We just don't know what to look for, and that's why for the first time in state history, every new law enforcement recruit is now being required to be trained and find to find as well as help victims. Our alley gender John is joining us this morning. Ali, you're looking into just how we got to this point in our state, as well as maybe some of the trends of human trafficking. Yeah, the trends are really interesting and I'll get to those in a second, but I want to make it clear this wasn't a course that just popped up overnight. It's very rooted in work. Human trafficking teams, units and councils have been doing for years. What I'm learning these aren't cases that just show up on an investigators desk or that people call in Denver's assistant District Attorney Laura Mullen calls it a crime in plain sight. That's very easily missed. Mullen says officers may respond to a call and unless they know what to look for and what questions to ask, they may never know it's a bigger threat like sex or human trafficking. That's where this new training comes in. She says these cases take a long time to develop and investigate, so just one example before Denver created a human trafficking unit. In 2017, she says they had no cases now. Since then, they've filed more than 150, and right now they're actively working on 45 cases. Now notice I I'm using the word cases. That does not mean arrests, because each of these cases can involve a number of people, maybe 10, maybe 50, maybe hundreds, and this training also teaches officers help to help make a victim feel safe enough to share information. Having the specialized knowledge and education and skill to be able to approach people in a more trauma informed way in a way that builds trust and rapport because the officer is asking the right questions or providing the right resources only helps to bridge that gap. Now Mullen also shared with me. Colorado is probably quote leagues ahead of many parts of the country when it comes to this training. She herself has traveled across the US to train and collaborate with law enforcement and says she still hears. People say quote. This doesn't happen in our city. We know now that that's not true. And Anusha, I just want to talk to you about this too, because I know that you've covered cases like this. You've been following trends in human trafficking, but you've talked specifically with Colorado State Police. Yeah, I did, and I think it's really interesting that getting to this point where it's a requirement has been years in the making. I mean, I'm just been looking back at some of the reports over the years. You're right. State Patrol started to see an increase in the number of victims they came in contact with when they simply just knew what to look for, right? Like you were saying, it just kind of was happening in front of them, but it's it's more than that. It's it's truck drivers. It's it's flight attendants, motel social workers. They're really just trying to get the entire community to look out for this as many eyes on it as possible because like she's been telling us it is in plain sight. I think the more we know too, maybe the more we can help. Alright, thank you so much.

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