Law Enforcement Agencies Partner with Southern Ocean Chamber

Back for their eighth year partnership,  the Office of Attorney General, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Ocean County Prosecutors Office, and the Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce present their Pre season Hometown Security event. This year the focus to update the business and community leadership on how to identify the signs of human trafficking, and where to get further resources. As always, several additional law enforcement agencies will also be present to give real time information and risk assessment for the upcoming summer. 

The training will begin 9:45am on Wednesday May 8, hosted by the Stafford EMS at their building  located at 365 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin. There is no fee to attend, but an RSVP to the chamber office is needed. Community leaders, youth organizations, health care companies, lodging, religious groups and businesses are invited to attend for the latest in better understanding and protecting volunteers, staff and customers.  The program will be headed by Kathleen Friess, of the NJ Division of Criminal Justice.  Kathleen Friess joined the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice in 2005 and has developed, and continues to conduct training courses, conferences, and on-site workshops for Deputy Attorney Generals, Assistant Prosecutors, other law enforcement personnel, state agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations throughout the state. She is a certified trainer, and also teaches at police academies. Ms. Friess helped to develop and implement a statewide Train-The-Trainer Program about Human Trafficking for law enforcement and attorneys, as well as Forensic Nurse Examiners, EMTs, Hotel Management, Child Assault Prevention Facilitators, and Casino Security Officers.  Kathy was instrumental in developing additional specialized trainings including those for hotel and casino staff, transportation workers, school personnel, healthcare workers, and airport security officers.  Ms. Friess worked with the Attorney General’s Design and Media Department to create and launch an ongoing Human Trafficking awareness campaign. Kathy was honored with the 2014 New Jersey Child Abuse Prevention Award, and the New Jersey Attorney General Excellence Award for Victims’ Justice – Crime Victims’ Rights Award.  Ms. Friess was also honored as a recipient of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking 2019 Advocacy Champion Award.

To RSVP at no cost, please contact the Southern Ocean Chamber at 609 494 7211  or by emailing Kate@ sochamber.com  For more information on this topic please visit NJ Office of Attorney General website.