MONROE COUNTY — January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking is a problem all over the world, and Monroe County is not immune.
In 2021, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office started VIPER, Violent Internet Predator Exploitation Response. According to data provided by Sheriff Troy Goodnough, since July, 2021, VIPER has worked 53 local cases. Thirty of those cases resulted in arrest or were turned over to the prosecutor’s office.
Previous Coverage: VIPER to fight human trafficking in Monroe County
In 2021, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough (center) led a news conference with other members of law enforcement about the start of the crime task force team called “VIPER,” Violent Internet and Predator Exploitation Response team. VIPER has worked on 53 local cases so far.
“The cases varied in nature, from prostitution and child exploitation to human trafficking,” Goodnough said. Here are the numbers:
2021: 31 cases
2022: 8 cases
2023: 16 cases
2024: 16 cases
Monroe County’s VIPER is composed of detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and Monroe City Police and deputies from the Uniform Services Division, according to task force’s webpage. It was modeled after a similar program in Genesee County called GHOST (Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team). The Genesee County Sherif and his team provided materials and hands-on training to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office free of charge, according to Monroe News archives.
What is human trafficking?
According to the Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition, males and females of all ages are trafficked for a variety of purposes, including commercial sex, agricultural work or other forms of labor. Force is the commonality in all cases.
“The Polaris Project hosts the national Human Trafficking Hotline and conducts extensive research on human trafficking. Their research shows there are 25 industries who utilize human trafficking in the United States. Because of the secretive, coercive nature of human trafficking, it is hard to find an exact figure of how many people are trafficked in the United States,” the coalition said.
Monroe County’s Anti Human Trafficking Coalition
Monroe County has the Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition.
Previous Coverage: ‘It’s everywhere’: Human trafficking is even in Monroe County
The Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition works with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and its VIPER task force to combat human trafficking. It also hosts local events on the topic. None are currently scheduled.
But, the coalition’s Laura Schultz Pipis said coalition members are available to conduct presentations.
To learn more about the coalition, contact Mary Kapp at kapp.mary1@gmail.com or Schultz Pipis at lpipis@unitedwayMLC.org or 734-242-1331. Follow the organization on Facebook. Donations for the efforts are collected by the Community Foundation of Monroe County.
Event in New Boston
Huron Township Rotary Club is hosting “Traffic Jam: An Open Dialogue about Keeping Your Kids Safe” from 6-7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Huron High School auditorium, 32044 Huron River Dr.
Experts and community members will engage in a question-and-answer session. Event attendees should be age 18 and older.
“The goal … is to provide parents and young adults the information and tools needed to keep each other safe,” the Rotary Club said.
Report suspected human trafficking
In Monroe County, call the VIPER hotline at 734-240-7535.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is at 888-373-7888.
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How can you help?
“Help mentor vulnerable youth in your sphere of influence,” Schultz Pipis said.
The Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition suggests learning about the topic through these books :“The Slave Next Door” by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter; “The Slave Across the Street” by Theresa Flores’ and “Renting Lacy” by Linda Smith, Moe Egan, et al. These are movies on the topic: “Men Who Buy Sex: Everybody Pays” (YouTube); PBS Frontline 2021 documentary “Sex Trafficking in America” (YouTube); and the 2023 commercial movie “Sound of Freedom.”
Find more information
— The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has an awareness campaign called the Blue Campaign.
— Also visit the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force and The Polaris Project.
— Monroe’s Family Counseling and Shelter Services offers help in violence against women. It can be reached at fcssmc.org or 734-241-0180.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Human Trafficking Prevention Month: See local VIPER stats since 2021