Neighborhood watch leaders hear about human trafficking
David Hopkins needs help.
Hopkins, a detective with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, made the plea for
assistance at a meeting of the West Patrol Advisory Committee Thursday, June 23.
Hopkins is assigned to human trafficking crimes; he made a plea to about a dozen leaders of
neighborhood watch groups, citing that they are the eyes and ears of their respective
communities.
Hopkins said that the Internet is used in many human trafficking cases. He said criminals will
lure victims who are desperate. These include undocumented immigrants or teenagers who
have run away from home. He said prostitutes are often involved in human trafficking cases.
Major Dustin Dungan, the West Patrol Commander, said staffing in the Police Department,
continues to be an issue. Presently, the Police Department has 369 officers authorized, with
only 309 in service. However, there are 23 in training and nine in the Police Academy. The
situation is even more critical with only 50 percent staffing among dispatchers.
Maj.Dungan reminded those present that fireworks can be shot off legally July 2, 3 and 4. He
said illegal fireworks include M-80s and bottle rockets. He said the Fourth of July and New
Year’s Eve were the busiest two nights for patrol officers.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and the Piper Press. He is a Director
of Business West.