Using Community Policing Approaches to Address Human Trafficking

Nazmia E.A. Comrie, MS; Alissa Huntoon, MPP; Lt. Craig LaGrone & Natasha Haunsperger | September 19 | 1:45-2:45 pm

Topic: Law Enforcement, Programming | Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Effective partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve are a key component in effectively identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and investigating and prosecuting traffickers. Agencies that focus on the three principles of community policing – partnerships, problem solving, and organizational change - have seen success in building trust and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve; including populations that may be particularly vulnerable to trafficking. This session will focus on promising practices in community policing approaches to human trafficking with the goal to explore how the law enforcement response to human trafficking might be strengthened throughout the field. Panelists will also discuss available resources and technical assistance available to the field.

Presentation Objectives:

• Identify promising practices for combatting human trafficking

• Provide collaborative strategies for engaging with services providers and survivors

• Identify investigative strategies using community policing approaches

About the Presenters

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Nazmia E.A. Comrie, MS

Nazmia Comrie is a sociologist at the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Nazmia has over 13 years’ experience in managing programs in the areas of police reform, mass demonstrations, agency safety, and wellness, and combating trafficking, hate crimes, and interpersonal violence. Nazmia received her master’s degree in criminal justice from University at Albany.

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Alissa Huntoon, MPP

Alissa Huntoon is a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. Alissa develops and implements national criminal justice system policy initiatives. Alissa earned her BA in Sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and her Masters of Public Policy from American University.

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Lt. Craig LaGrone

Lieutenant Craig LaGrone has been working with the Tulsa Police Department for over two decades. In 2021, he was transferred to the Special Investigations Division as the supervisor over the Human Trafficking and Vice Unit. During that time, he became the law enforcement chair for OCAT (Oklahoma Coalition Against Trafficking).

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Natasha Haunsperger

Officer Natasha Haunsperger has been a Portland Oregon Police Officer for 18 years. She is developing a comprehensive police-community engagement program to integrate historically marginalized communities. She also specializes in intelligence and criminal investigations involving foreign-born human trafficking subjects.

2024Anna SchrammSeptember 19, 2024Nazmia E.A. Comrie, MS; Alissa Huntoon, MPP; Lt. Craig LaGrone & Natasha Haunsperger19:1:45