Recent report gave Iowa an 'F' in the fight to stop human trafficking
The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a program that implements state law, requiring all Iowa hotels to complete human trafficking prevention training.
Iowa law enforcement officials are teaming up with hotels to help curb human trafficking.
All hotel employees in Iowa will be required to complete human trafficking prevention training by Jan. 1, 2022, or the hotel will not be able to accept public funds.
"With human trafficking it's very hard to identify. So, if we have the front-line people that might actually see it, then that identification will be great for law enforcement, and they will be able to investigate those types of things and save victims," said Patrick Waymire, Assistant Director of the Division of Intelligence at the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
The training requirement is part of a state law passed in July 2020. It affects 1,500 lodging facilities including campsites and AirBNBs. The free online training can be accessed at StopHTiowa.org. It teaches Iowa's law on human trafficking, helps to identify human traffickers and explains what to do if you notice it.
"It's a serious problem. It's probably growing. A lot of it is undetectable that we're not able to see, and so it's hard for us to know exactly how much is going on in the state," said Waymire.
Waymire says hotels are often hot spots for human trafficking because it's a moving crime.
"There's groups that will travel on what we call a circuit, and in Iowa, it's also very unique. We have two major interstates coming through the state," said Waymire.
A handful of hotels have already completed the training.