Nebraska Leaders Urge Public to Be On the Alert for Human Trafficking Ahead of CWS
by John Gage
(Picture credit John Gage)
OMAHA – Nebraska, community, and law enforcement leaders gathered outside Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Monday to shine a spotlight on human trafficking detection and prevention ahead of the College World Series (CWS).
“To every predators who’s coming, beware, you won’t get out of dodge fast enough,” Governor Jim Pillen said during the press conference, touting the work of law enforcement and prosecutors in preventing human trafficking.
Attorney General Mike Hilgers urged CWS attendees to use the state’s hotline, 1-833-PLS-LOOK (1-833-757-5665), to report any suspicious activity. “Whether at the federal level, the state level, the county level, or the municipal level, we are all going to work together to make sure it is safe for participants and for those in the community,” Hilgers said.
During the press conference, Pillen, Mayor John Ewing, and Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson all emphasized how safe Omaha is as a city, but warned CWS attendees to still remain aware for signs of human trafficking.
“We are going to do everything we can do with our partners to keep everyone safe,” Ewing said. “If you see something say something. Rather than second guessing themselves and wondering if there’s an issue, let these trained professionals address the issue and just give us an opportunity to keep us safe.”
Hanson touted the professionalism of Nebraska’s law enforcement community in fighting human trafficking, stating that the city, county and state law enforcement teams were the best in the country.
“All the pieces are in place for appropriate teamwork to make a difference,” he said. “This is where we need the public to engage.”
FBI Special Agent Gene Kowel gave tips on spotting potential signs of individuals involved in human trafficking, including people with obvious medical conditions that have not been treated, tattoos that indicate ownership of someone, individuals who might have a different person always answering for them, or someone with technology or outfits that do not seem to fit their situation.
“It’s often happening in plain sight. It’s not always that people are being held under lock and key or handcuffs,” Kowel said, adding that the public usually has a pretty good sense of when something does not look right.
OPD Addresses Old Market Fights
Chief Todd Schmaderer, the head of the Omaha Police Department (OPD), addressed a question during the press conference about a string of recent incidents in Omaha’s Old Market entertainment district which has seen multiple fights breakout the past few weekends.
Schmaderer said that OPD had a lot more “overtime” this weekend and other agencies, including State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, have assisted in patrolling the area.
“We had a few small skirmishes but because of the large presence of Omaha Police, Douglas County, State Patrol – we didn’t really have any problems,” he said. “You are going to see that large presence, and even then some, because of the College World Series.”
Schmaderer said the issue with fights breaking out in the Old Market happens every year and it usually takes law enforcement 3 to 4 weekends to “get a handle on it.” On Memorial Day weekend, OPD used pepper spray and tasers to break up a large fight in a gathering of about 200 people that broke out in the Old Market.
Schmaderer said OPD makes arrests each year during the CWS for prostitution and human trafficking, and that the department would post the data following the event.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.