Bethlehem considers assigning detective part-time to Northampton County human trafficking task force

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Bethlehem Police Department wants to assign a detective to a part-time role investigating cases of potential child exploitation and human trafficking.

This comes following the March kickoff of Northampton County’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Bethlehem police could add one of its detectives to a county sex trafficking task force, the chief says
The department member would join in a part-time capacity and receive free training
City council will consider the matter at a future meeting

The partnership, if approved, would involve a city detective teaming up with the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations in the efforts.

County District Attorney Terry Houck approached the city about joining last year.

“The mission of the task force will be to use all available resources to combat human trafficking by aggressively investigating, identifying, and prosecuting offenders and organizations involved in the trafficking of individuals and those offenders who utilize the internet to solicit minors for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact,” Houck wrote in a December letter to Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott.

Kott outlined the potential partnership with the city council’s public safety committee earlier this week.

“Collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and victim service providers is key to dismantling trafficking and child exploitation operations.”

Michelle Kott, Bethlehem police chief

The chief supports the initiative and cited a number of Bethlehem exploitation and human trafficking cases over the past seven years.

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott at the Bethlehem City Council Meeting — Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott speaks at a previous meeting.

“Collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and victim service providers is key to dismantling trafficking and child exploitation operations,” Kott said. “Joining the Northampton County HSI Task Force will only strengthen our ability to identify victims of trafficking and exploitation, provide appropriate services for victims and bring their traffickers-abusers to justice.”

Committee chair Rachel Leon cited some several resources and contacts at the beginning of the meeting:

Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kott said the task force officer assigned to the position would not have authority to enforce violations of immigration law as they pertain to the citizenship statuses of victims.

She said the Bethlehem Police Department has never been in the 287(g) program, one that would allow local and state law enforcement to enforce immigration regulations alongside the federal government.

Developing partnerships

Council member Hillary Kwiatek asked how the partnership would differ from relationships the police department already has with other law enforcement entities that have investigated similar crimes. And since the solved cases involved groups other than HSI, Kwiatek wondered why it would be part of the operation this time.

Kott answered that since the Bethlehem Police Department is the largest law enforcement member in the Northampton County, it was only natural that the DA would reach out.

Developing additional partnerships is the goal behind involving other agencies, she said. Kott added that the task force’s supervisory agent-in-charge has said the program model has seen success in Lehigh and Berks counties.

“Homeland Security hasn’t really established a strong base yet in the Lehigh Valley,” the chief explained. “And I believe that one of the reasons that they’re reaching out to Northampton County and wanting to do this partnership, is because they want to form those relationships.”

Kwiatek said the involvement of an ICE partner might have a “chilling effect” for some victims, potentially affecting community relations.

“I just feel like victims could be victimized again,” she said.

“We would absolutely not hesitate if they overstepped their boundaries and went out of their lanes. We would absolutely let them know that we will not be continuing in this partnership, being intentional as well with who gets that TFO position.”

Michelle Kott, Bethlehem police chief

Next steps

Kott said that the memorandum of understanding with other agencies could be broken with 30 days’ notice. The department member assigned to the position also would be “very capable and aware of what the guidelines are,” she added.

“We would absolutely not hesitate if they overstepped their boundaries and went out of their lanes,” Kott said. “We would absolutely let them know that we will not be continuing in this partnership, being intentional as well with who gets that TFO [task force officer] position.”

Council member Wandalyn Enix asked if it might require a full-time position.

Kott said it would involve a department detective in a part-time role, and the city would not have to front any funding to make it happen.

“We are not forfeiting an officer; we are in no position to do that right now,” Kott said. “Any costs incurred — whether it be for training, or if it be for overtime — would be handled by the Department of Homeland Security.”

Houck in his letter said two Homeland Security Investigations special agents would provide training specific to the group’s operations.

HSI has identified that BPD Detective Emily Falko “would be an asset to the task force,” the DA wrote.

The Public Safety Committee voted 2-1, moving the discussion to city council. Enix and Kwiatek voted in favor of council having a conversation on the initiative, while Leon wished to have another committee meeting on the matter.