Celina City Council discussed taking part in a program that would establish such a zone at its meeting July 8. Establishing this zone would provide training to city employees and police to help identify human trafficking when it occurs.
The council did not take a vote but directed the police chief to move forward with establishing a trafficking-free zone.
The details
Trafficking-free zone is a program that was created by the organization U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.
The program is meant to reduce the number of human trafficking buyers, Police Chief John Cullison said at the July 8 meeting. These buyers create an illicit market for traffickers to exploit young victims, he said.
There were 10,775 victims of human trafficking between 2000 and 2022, according to U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.
Establishing a zone could do a number of things for the city, Cullison said.
It could make Celina a certified “safe zone” for city employees and patrons and give national recognition to the city for its efforts to end human trafficking, according to U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.
The city’s logo would also be added to the organization’s website and directory.
To establish a trafficking-free zone, Celina officials must sign a proclamation and a pledge annually.
What they’re saying
Cullison said the city has seen a lot of children run away from home in recent years. These children can become victims of human trafficking, he said.
“Human trafficking is a problem across this country,” Cullison said. “It's happening here in this city as well.”
Council member Wendie Wigginton said the proclamation “will make people’s eyes open to just how big of an issue [human trafficking] is nationwide.”
