AGENCY TESTIMONY
NYPD Human Trafficking Task Force: Mission, operations, and challenges
0:25:24
ยท
76 sec
Deputy Chief Ortiz outlines the mission, responsibilities, and operations of the NYPD Human Trafficking Task Force, emphasizing their trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.
- The task force investigates both sex and labor trafficking cases
- Operations are based on leads from various sources, including hotlines, patrol, and other agencies
- In 2024, the task force conducted over 300 operations, resulting in 191 arrests and the rescue of 86 trafficking victims, including 27 minors
- Ortiz highlights the challenges in rescuing victims, as survivors are sometimes hesitant to accept help
Carlos Ortiz
0:25:24
The human trafficking task force, of which our human trafficking squad is part of, is responsible for investigating both sex and labor trafficking.
0:25:32
Our mission is to conduct trauma informed, victim centered, and offender focused investigations.
0:25:37
Our targeted enforcement, often focused around hotels, are based on leads from human trafficking hotline, on referrals from patrol, the missing person squad, district attorney's office, the Department of Education, as well as, administration of child services along with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.
0:25:57
We then set up encounters.
0:25:59
And when there is evidence of trafficking or that the victim is underage, members of the human trafficking squad will conduct a rescue operation, utilizing trauma informed training to save these young people.
0:26:10
Overall, during the calendar year of 2024, we conducted over 300 operations resulting in a 191 arrests of pimps, traffickers, and those who promote prostitution.
0:26:21
We rescued over 86 trafficking victims, 27 of those being minors.
0:26:26
I wanna stress how complicate how challenging this can be as as survivors are sometimes hesitant to accept help.
0:26:33
But I'm also happy to report, however, that we have many stories of survivors who over time saw a lifeline and thanked us, for saving them.