Thousands of law enforcement have gotten online training course on human trafficking in Florida. State officials are hoping even more will take an updated elective course.
Back in 2013, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office partnered to develop the “Introduction to Human Trafficking” online training course.
“The course required some updates due to the recent law changes in human trafficking, which greatly helps us,” said Bondi. “And, FDLE worked so hard on this with my office over the summer to update the course and it’s now live again on the FDLE website.”
And, due to the update, Bondi says she’s encouraging those who took the course before to take it again.
“So, as of September 26th, 5,489 law enforcement officers have taken the course, and I just can’t encourage people enough to take this two-hour course,” she added. “It’s just so important.”
Springfield Police Chief Philip Thorne—who sits on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking with Bondi—says he’s impressed by the number of smaller law enforcement agencies—like his own—whose officers have already taken the course.
“I’m going to give some kudos to my assistant chief who ensured that not only did my full-time officers, but my reserve officers took the training and that’s reflected in the numbers,” said Thorne. “But, we will now, because it’s been updated, I’ll go back by the end of October, my folks will have taken it again. So, good tool!”
Throne says he and others also intend to talk to the Florida Police Chiefs Association as well as the Florida Sheriffs Association to encourage more law enforcement to take the course.
For more information, visit FDLE’s website.
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