MIDLAND, Texas — Human trafficking is a massive problem across the country and in West Texas, which is why one organization Thursday made an effort to raise awareness through education on Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
DIREC Founder Jon Lindgren, Midland County Sheriff David Criner and human trafficking survivors came together to recognize and speak out on abduction.
To help spread the word, Midland Artist Bob Callendar is auctioning off some of his work where all the proceeds will go towards a six-part roll call training series for law enforcement agencies within the crime against children conference.
Lindgren told NewsWest 9 that being educated on human trafficking is a big step forward into stopping it all.
"We need to support and provide support to them through education, funds [and] whatever it takes to help officers move forward," Lindgren said. "They do a fantastic job, but they're limited in staff [and] they're limited in what the reach is. And so, they're working round the clock for something we should be participating in. So today, what I'm seeing and hoping to see in the Permian Basin is people working together. They already do. We want to bring that awareness, that collaboration is so valuable and so important. There are resources outside of this community that I'd like to bring in, so that we can educate these officers and support them in any way we can."
Lindgren also hopes to expand his training to law enforcement throughout the Permian Basin.