SAULT STE. MARIE — Chippewa County Undersheriff Ryan Hering delivered a public presentation on human trafficking awareness Tuesday evening at E-Free Church, emphasizing the reality of trafficking in rural communities.
“This is something we just need to recognize is happening in our small little rural area,” Hering said.
The presentation marked a shift in Hering’s outreach efforts, expanding beyond law enforcement and government officials to engage the general public.
Hering was recognized in April with the Lloyd Sealy Award for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, honoring his extensive work combating human trafficking in Chippewa County. He said the response from the audience was emotional and eye-opening.
“People had lots of questions and they were emotional,” Hering said. “People were affected in our audience today. There were lots of experiences that were shared, and unfortunately, that is what we have to recognize.”
While there is no definitive estimate of human trafficking cases in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security reports an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide.
Hering said his goal is to continue educating the community and encouraging people to remain alert and informed about the signs of trafficking, regardless of location.e.