PEN ARGYL, Pa. — A town hall Thursday gave Slate Belt residents tools to recognize signs of human trafficking.
Nearly 100 people filled Lookout Fire Company banquet hall for presentations from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Patrick Jochum and representatives of Bloom, a Bethlehem-based nonprofit assisting women who were victims of trafficking.
“We saw the need, and people are interested in this topic. We got together and figured, well, let’s pull in some experts.”Pen Argyl Mayor Stephen Male
“We saw the need, and people are interested in this topic,” Pen Argyl Mayor Stephen Male said. “We got together and figured, well, let’s pull in some experts.”
The defining trait of trafficking is someone compelled to perform labor or sex work through force, fraud or coercion, Jochum told the crowd.
Victims can be any gender, age or nationality, he said.
As an agent with Homeland Security Investigations, he said he has overseen numerous human trafficking investigations in New York City.
So far, human trafficking has not been reported in the Slate Belt, Slate Belt Regional Police Chief Jonathon Hoadley said, but that is not to say it could never happen there.
The main bodies for investigating human trafficking in the Lehigh Valley, the Northampton County and Lehigh County human trafficking task forces, are collaborations between the Department of Homeland Security and the two counties’ district attorneys’ offices.
Helping victims is first priority
Homeland Security’s first priority is helping victims connect with resources, Jochum said.
“If we can help the victim and, unfortunately, never prosecute someone, to us, we did our job,” he said.
Common signs of trafficking, they said, include when someone is especially timid or fearful, has a backstory that constantly changes, show signs of physical abuse, or is not allowed to speak to other people alone.
“If you see something that doesn't fit, call."Slate Belt Regional Police Chief Jonathon Hoadley
No one indicator is definitive proof that someone is a victim of trafficking, he said.
“If you find someone who is with a male or female and maybe this person looks in distress, but they will make eye contact, there is this disassociation,” said Sheniqua Mitchell, outreach manager at Bloom.
“You want to pay attention to verbal cues and non-verbal cues.”
Above all, the presenters urged residents to trust their instincts if something seems off and report anything suspicious to police.
“If you see something that doesn't fit, call,” Hoadley said.
To report suspected human trafficking, call the Department of Homeland Security Investigations hotline at 1-866-347-2423, or dial 9-1-1 if the situation is an emergency.
Trafficking victims in need of services should call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
