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All Fremont hotels trained to spot human trafficking

Posted at 6:45 PM, Dec 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-22 14:58:56-05

Through the Coalition on Human Trafficking, all hotels and motels in Fremont, Blair and Wahoo have held employee training to help spot victims.

Shiela Monke says she didn't know human trafficking happened in her community of Fremont until she did some digging. About 85 percent of human trafficking takes place in hotel rooms, so she volunteers with the Coalition, training hotel and motel staff.

"During one of our trainings in the motels, the whole room just started to roll and shift a little bit," Monke said. "They said room 124."

Kathy Kemler organizes the Coalition on Human Trafficking. Right now, about 75 percent of the hotels and motels in Omaha have received training.

She says spotting warning signs are crucial for helping victims.

"If an adult is with a younger person and you can tell it is not a familial or parental relationship, if someone is looking down and not making eye contact and seems very uncomfortable it can be a sign of human trafficking," she said.

Big events like the College World Series, Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meetings, swim trails and many others can increase trafficking in eastern Nebraska.

Monke says she hopes the training sends a message.

"The traffickers, they come in all shapes and sizes and genders," she said. "It doesn't matter. But, they can't be here."

The Coalition says they are always looking for volunteers.