New Fox Valley Task Force Targets Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking in the Fox Valley will get renewed focus from law enforcement as members of a human trafficking task force will meet for the first time on Friday.

This effort comes just as the state Department of Justice is announcing a statewide coordinated effort to fight prostitution — although people in the field don’t like to call it “prostitution” anymore because often it involves those who are underage and aren’t willing participants.

Lt. Steve Elliot, of the Appleton Police Department’s street crime unit and a task force member, said sex trafficking only needs four things to thrive.

“That’s the Internet, highways, hotels and men,” he said.

The statewide effort will coordinate with groups like the one in the Fox Cities. Elliot said it’s important to keep the local efforts, “because of the nuances that each community has, because of different ordinances, different ways of conducting investigations, different politics that are involved,” he said.

The Fox Valley task force has four concentrations — prevention, treatment, police and courts.