Human Trafficking/ICAC Unit

Mission Statement

The mission of the Human Trafficking Unit is to identify and recover victims of human trafficking, support the investigation and prosecution of human traffickers, and promote public awareness of human trafficking within Fort Worth.

History

Following the recovery of multiple female Honduran human trafficking victims from north Fort Worth bars in 2002, and the recovery of 79 undocumented individuals from a tractor trailer in 2004, the Fort Worth Police Department identified the need for a coordinated response to human trafficking within the community.

In the summer of 2005, 31 regional law enforcement agencies, including Fort Worth, partnered with social service providers to form the North Texas Anti-Trafficking Taskforce (NTATT). This collaborative effort was established to strengthen interagency coordination and promote victim-centered identification, recovery, and restoration practices.

In December 2006, the Fort Worth Police Department was awarded a three-year federal grant from the United States Department of Justice to establish a dedicated Human Trafficking investigator. Although the grant period concluded, a Human Trafficking detective continued to operate within the Support Bureau, investigating outcries and coordinating with other agencies for the next decade. 

On January 1, 2016, the Tarrant County 5 Stones Taskforce was established as a law enforcement-supported community engagement effort to address sex trafficking. The Taskforce operates as an extension of the Fort Worth Police Department and is led by a civilian Program Coordinator, supporting outreach, coordination, and partnership development.

In 2017, a formal Human Trafficking Detail was created in Violent Personal Crimes section of the Criminal Investigations Division.  This detail was attached to the Major Case Unit and included detectives, officers, and the civilian program coordinator for the Taskforce.  After operating under the Major Case detail for three years, the Human Trafficking detail was formally promoted to a unit in October 2019. Staffing expanded to include one sergeant, two detectives, two officers, and one civilian.

In 2023, the unit was transferred from the Violent Personal Crimes section to the Special Victims section and combined with the Internet Crimes Against Children detail.  Today, with 11 members (a sergeant, 9 sworn detectives and officers, and 2 civilians) the unit is responsible for investigating suspected human trafficking activity as well as all reported internet crimes against children, identifying and recovering victims, and supporting public awareness and prevention efforts within Fort Worth.