ALPENA – Michigan State Police Community Service Troopers are assigned across the state to focus on community outreach to help strengthen Michigan communities. They serve citizens in a range of ways, including mentoring youth, working with seniors, educating citizens on emerging crime trends and focusing on community service and training.
January has been declared Human Trafficking Awareness month. Throughout the month of January, CSTs will be speaking to community members on the topic of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a vast and expanding criminal enterprise through which traffickers profit from the exploitation and control of their victims. It is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against their will. Traffickers use violence, threats, blackmail, false promises, deception, manipulation and debt bondage to trap vulnerable children and adults in horrific situations.
If you or someone you know needs help or to report a potential human trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center toll-free hotline, 24-hours a day, seven days a week at 888 373-7888 or email nhtrc@polarisproject.org. Support is provided in more than 200 languages and all communication with the hotline is strictly confidential.
If you would like a CST to present to your group or organization, contact Community Service Trooper Ashley Simpson at the Alpena Post at 989-354-4101.