Church group talks about fight against child trafficking

The United Methodist Women of Round Rock gathered last month for a difficult-but-necessary conversation about child sex trafficking and what local law enforcement agencies are doing to address it.

On Aug. 14, the group hosted a presentation and question-and-answer session with Sgt. Greg Reyero of the Texas crimes against children training unit on the Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) at the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock.

The program, launched in 2009, is designed to teach troopers and other law enforcement officers how to recognize indicators of endangered children who do not exhibit obvious signs of abuse during traffic stops.

Reyero said the program is the first in the country to address indicators of victims at a street level.

“It’s a program that emphasizes the fact that law enforcement cannot continue to wait for victims to outcry,” he said. “It uses a victim-centered approach.”

More than 300 missing or exploited children have been rescued in the country through the program since it began nearly 10 years ago, Reyero said.

“It doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but the unique thing about that is those 300 children were rescued by patrol officers making traffic stops for busted taillights, speeding, DWI, motorist assist or working a crash where they saw those indicators,” he said. “They weren’t rescued by investigators or Texas Rangers.”

The program, co-founded by Texas DPS Lt. Derek Prestridge, partners child protective services, local prosecutors, officers and nonprofit group to rescue victims and support their recovery.

Reyero oversees coordination among the different agencies. He was certified as an IPC trainer in 2014 and has since helped teach the program across the country.

He said patrol officers use a set of questions, like those used by officers in drug interdiction, that help determine if a child needs help.

“There’s really three questions you can ask to find if someone is up to no good: Where are you going, where are you coming from and who are you with,” he said. “If you can’t give logical explanations to those questions, there’s something going on.”

Through the program, troopers are also taught how to speak with suspected child victims and ask questions.

Any highly suspicious characteristics or behaviors from traffic stops that are not illegal are reported to local fusion centers, where residents can also submit reports of suspicious activities.

IPC classes have been held in Williamson County and the Austin area for local law enforcement. Reyero cited a class that took place in Cedar Park and helped three patrol officers from Killeen rescue two children within a 72-hour period.

United Methodist Women member Teri Marrs said the issue is an urgent topic that most do not realize can happen anywhere, even locally.

“We can get out in the community and make a difference,” she said. “Everybody lives in their little bubble and thinks, ‘Oh that’s not going on in my community’ — and it is.”