State wants to enlist truck drivers to fight human trafficking

The nation was horrified this week at the news that 10 people died and dozens more were injured in a sweltering truck trailer in San Antonio.

The driver said he didn't know what he was hauling. Texas authorities didn't buy it and have charged the Florida man with smuggling immigrants for financial gain, resulting in death. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Hoping to avoid a similar tragedy closer to home, state lawmakers want to enlist truckers in the fight against human trafficking.

A bill sponsored by several suburban legislators would require truck driver programs to teach students how to identify and prevent trafficking. The measure unanimously passed both houses of the General Assembly and is awaiting the governor's signature.

"There's certainly been a lot of discussion about this," said Jim Bell, co-owner of CDL Enterprises, the company that runs College of DuPage's truck-driving program. "The responsibility of other truck drivers to spot this is a very worthwhile idea."

One of the five chief co-sponsors of the bill is state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, a St. Charles Republican who is on the Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force.

The Illinois secretary of state's office already is working on the lessons with Truckers Against Trafficking, said office spokesman Dave Druker.

Learning to drive a truck isn't just about passing a driving test, Bell said. Being aware of trafficking "is just another aspect of things that come up," he said.

Harper College instructor Jeff Clark said the Palatine school's program trains drivers to constantly be aware of their surroundings and be good citizens in general.

The program emphasizes what it calls being a "first observer," by looking for things that seem out of place and listening for unusual noises inside a trailer. Harper also uses Truckers Against Trafficking materials.

The victims in the Texas case were migrant workers. But human trafficking also includes people being forced to work in the sex industry, forced laborers and household servants such as nannies, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

<h3 class="leadin">

Quite a fish tale

"Finding Nemo" has nothing on this fish tale out of Geneva.

A police officer patrolling the city early Tuesday morning spotted a goldfish sitting in a clear, plastic Meijer store bag on Keim Court.

Police believe the fish had been purchased at the store then accidentally left atop its new owner's vehicle after the person loaded up the rest of his or her purchases. The nearest Meijer, by the way, is in St. Charles, about 3½ miles from Keim Court.

The city initially posted about the fish on its Facebook page and website, asking anyone who knew of its owner to call so they could be reunited.

About five hours later, after deciding the chances of locating the owner weren't too good, police announced they'd found someone willing to provide the fish with a good home.

<h3 class="leadin">

Lifesavers honored

Congrats to officers Lisa Dye and Jason Calvaresi, who this week received the Rolling Meadows Police Department's Life Saving Award for their June 14 heroics.

The officers were on duty shortly after midnight that day when they got the call that a 50-year-old resident had collapsed while trying to help his wife, who uses a wheelchair, up some stairs.

When they arrived, they found the man unconscious and not breathing. They quickly began performing CPR, keeping the man alive long enough for an ambulance to arrive and rush the man to a hospital for more lifesaving treatment.

"These officers had minutes, maybe seconds to act or this individual would not have survived," Chief John Nowacki said during a presentation ceremony Tuesday.

Nowacki said the hospital staff made a point to call the department later to tell them the man survived because of the officers' actions.

<h3 class="leadin">No Night Out in Algonquin

While most police departments across the suburbs will be hosting their National Night Out events Tuesday night (check with your department for exact times and locations), Algonquin's night out - like the town's Founders' Days festival before it - has fallen victim to this month's record flooding.

Chief John Bucci made the announcement Tuesday, saying that amid the recovery efforts, the department simply cannot dedicate the resources necessary for the event.

"In an effort to keep the spirit of National Night Out going, we would like to encourage resident to turn on their porch lights, go outside and meet their neighbors," Bucci wrote.

<h3 class="leadin">

Comings and goings

Mundelein police officer Stephen Balogh will join the Mundelein High School staff as school resource officer when classes resume Aug. 14. He's replacing officer Sarah Wirth, who has a new assignment with the department ... Wauconda police Sgt. Anthony Jacobson has retired after a 31-year career in law enforcement ... Algonquin welcomed two new officers to the force Tuesday when Haley Bucheleres and Anthony Hart-Davi were sworn in.

• Got a tip? Send an email to copsandcrime@dailyherald.com or call (847) 427-4483.