DECATUR, Ill. -- The Human Trafficking Research Lab (HTRL) at Millikin University is hosting the eighth annual panel discussion for Human Trafficking Awareness Month titled “Policing Human Trafficking: Development and Challenges.” The panel will be on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Ballroom A/B of the University Commons at Millikin University and will round out events held around the United States for Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2025.
This panel discussion will feature law enforcement entities on the federal and state levels from around Central Illinois and will discuss the challenges and opportunities law enforcement faces in policing sex and labor trafficking and the implications of this policing on survivors and victims in our region. Panel members will include:
• Eric V. Bowers, Resident Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations
• Christopher JS Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Lt. Brandon Grzechowiak, Division of Criminal Investigation–Investigative Support Command, Trafficking Enforcement Bureau, Illinois State Police
• Katrina Quillen, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
“For eight years, the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin University has hosted a panel discussion for Human Trafficking Prevention Month every January. We are proud to bring experts from different law enforcement entities on the federal and state levels to campus to discuss a new topic this year, policing,” Millikin Associate Professor of Political Science and the Director of the HTRL Dr. Laura Dean said. "We are also thankful for the opportunity to co-sponsor this event with a new community partner, the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services."
Sponsored by the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin University and the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services office in Decatur.
For more information, please see the Facebook event page “Policing Human Trafficking: Development and Challenges” or contact Dr. Laura Dean at ldean@millikin.edu.
