Battalion Chief Ed Brayman and Equipment Operator Nate Bazen had been trained on human trafficking and know how to recognize the signs and red flags. They were attending an EMS instructor conference. While there, they saw a woman who needed help. Nate Bazen described, “It was much like today. Kind of cold, snowy, and she had a very light jacket, spring jacket on. Kind of in the corner of the front entrance of the hotel. Duct tape on her shoes.” “We just let her know that we were Grand Rapids firefighters, that she didn’t have anything to worry about, that if somebody needed help, we’re there to help,” Brayman said. Brayman stated that the conversation was sad. “ The more we heard the worse the scenario was getting.” They called the police.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex acts.
According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, human traffickers victimize an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported that in 2024 they received 32,309 reports. 8,024 of those were made by victims or survivors themselves. 11, 999 cases were identified and those included 21,865 victims (Cases often involve multiple victims).
Sex Trafficking
According to the Trafficked Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. (22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(A)).
Labor Trafficking (Forced Labor)
According to the Trafficked Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), Forced labor is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(B)).
The Unique Position of Fire and EMTs
It may surprise you that the majority of trafficked victims do not realize that they are victims (Read more about the psychology of sex trafficked victims), therefore, It is rare that a victim will self-identify or self-report, attempt to escape or ask for help due to fear. Fire and EMS workers play a crucial role in identifying and getting victims help. They can enter homes and treat victims. They can get closer to victims than a trafficker would normally allow from anyone else. Fire and EMS workers are more trusted. Victims are taught not to trust the police through both their traffickers and through their personal, unfortunate, experiences with the law. Fire and EMS are different kinds of community heroes that the greater population is more trusting of and more prone to confide in.
According to a 2021 study conducted by Ipsos, the majority of Americans trust fire fighters, other first responders, teachers and health care workers more than most other professionals. 80% of people interviewed found fire fighters to be trustworthy. 76% found EMTs/ Paramedics to be trustworthy. Only 49% found police to be trustworthy.
It’s up to Fire/EMS workers to equip themselves with knowledge of the human trafficking industry so they can help identify our brother and sisters in bondage. Ask yourself, would you have recognized the red flags that Chief Brayman and Nate Bazen did? Would you have brushed it off as “she must be poor”?
Sources
Morris, Catherine. “Firefighters, Healthcare Workers and First Responders Top List of Most Trusted Professions.” Ipsos, 7 May 2021, www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/firefighters-healthcare-workers-and-first-responders-top-list-most-trusted-professions
“GR Firefighters Identify Human Trafficking Victim in Traverse City.” WoodTV, 18 Dec. 2023, www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/gr-firefighters-identify-human-trafficking-victim-in-traverse-city/
Human Trafficking Hotline. Statistics. Polaris. Accessed 7 Sept. 2025. humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
To learn more about signs of trafficking read (ARTICLE LINK)
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