Flock Safety Shares Vision for a Safer Future at National Anti-Human Trafficking Event

Flock Safety’s mission is rooted in the belief that technology should be used for good. It should protect people, solve crime, and return people who are missing. And while human trafficking is one of the hardest crimes to investigate and prosecute, it’s also one of the most urgent to act on. With thousands of law enforcement partners across the country, Flock Safety is helping them do exactly that.

This week, Flock Safety’s Chief Communications Officer, Josh Thomas, joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Approaches to Combating Human Trafficking forum to speak alongside leaders from public safety, advocacy, and the private sector. The message was clear: no single organization can end this crisis alone, but together, we can dismantle the systems that enable it.

“We deliver real, actionable evidence that helps solve crime. And that evidence is already helping to bring missing people home,” Josh said. 

“One of the things that I’m the most proud about in the last seven years working at Flock is that our technology has helped provide the evidence to recover over 1,000 missing people,” Josh added. “We have partnerships with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we’re working with the Safe House Project. And it’s about providing the evidence that actually recovers real humans and brings them back and returns them to their families.”

A Sting Operation During the NFL Draft

One of the most powerful moments from the panel came when Josh shared a story from a recent operation conducted during the 2024 NFL Draft. When hundreds of thousands of people descended on Detroit and its neighboring areas, law enforcement knew what often occurs during large-scale events: a spike in human trafficking. In partnership with Federal authorities and the police department in Taylor, Michigan used Flock Safety technology in a targeted sting operation to identify and stop individuals attempting to solicit victims of trafficking.

Using Flock’s hardware and software tools, law enforcement were able to arrest and prosecute 10 individuals. The operation demonstrated that even small agencies with limited resources can have an outsized impact when equipped with the right tools and support.

Looking towards the future, “we have all of these FIFA events coming up,” Josh said. “We have the World Cup, and we have the Olympics. We have all these big, major sporting events where a lot of stuff can happen around the periphery.”

“If we can enable local law enforcement with the right tools and then allow them the opportunity to collaborate with their partners across different agencies, there really is an opportunity to use this data effectively to stop [human trafficking] where it’s starting.”

Stopping Retail Crime That Funds Trafficking

Josh was joined on the panel by Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigations, who spoke about the critical role financial tracking plays in dismantling trafficking networks. Josh built on that perspective by explaining how Flock Safety’s technology is helping uncover and interrupt the funding streams that support human trafficking. 

Human trafficking networks are often bankrolled by organized retail crime, and gift card fraud is a major funding source. Flock’s retail partners, including national brands like Lowe’s, Kroger, and Ulta Beauty, are using Flock’s technology to help identify repeat offenders, prevent fraud, and share relevant data with law enforcement.

“We’re not just helping retailers stop theft,” Josh explained. “We’re also helping uncover the financial infrastructure behind trafficking operations.”

By connecting the dots between fraud, organized theft, and human trafficking, Flock is giving law enforcement a clearer view of criminal networks operating in plain sight.

Built-in Intelligence for a Smarter Search

At the core of many investigations is video footage—hours and hours of it. But most camera systems are passive, relying on a human to sift through endless files. Flock’s answer is Freeform Search, a tool that allows users to type in natural language queries like “blue Jeep” or “landscaping truck” and instantly find relevant video.

This software isn’t limited to Flock hardware. It can run on third-party devices, unlocking intelligence from existing cameras across the country.

“There are sensors everywhere, but most of them are ‘dumb,’” said Josh. “We make them smart and usable, in real time.”

By turning static video into searchable, actionable data, Flock is helping law enforcement rapidly locate vehicles and patterns linked to trafficking activity and act on it before victims are moved or evidence disappears.

150 Cities & More Than 100 Victims Recovered

The last real-world example that Josh offered during the panel was Flock’s involvement in Operation Coast to Coast. In the 24-hour nationwide operation, Flock Safety partnered with 150 local law enforcement agencies and federal partners to help dismantle a network of illegal massage businesses suspected of trafficking. The results: more than 100 victims, including minors, were rescued, and numerous traffickers were arrested.

“That kind of coordination—across states and sectors—is only possible when everyone shares information and acts on it,” Josh said. “And that’s exactly what we’re building at Flock.”

We believe technology can help end human trafficking, and with Flock Safety technology aiding in the recovery of more than 1,000 missing people nationwide, we’re already seeing meaningful impact.

Every connection counts in the fight against human trafficking.

‍Join our live webinar as we bring together public safety experts to explore how better coordination, smarter data use, and cross-jurisdictional awareness are redefining what’s possible in human trafficking investigations.