Suffolk Police Commissioner To Deliver Keynote At Human Trafficking Workshop In Farmingville Next Month

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Brookhaven officials will host a workshop on human trafficking on Sept. 24 at town hall in Farmingville.

The workshop, which is titled Human Trafficking 102: Identification to Justice, will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

It is being presented by the town's Office of Women's Services Advisory Board.

Officials called it a "critical community program," which is "designed to deepen public understanding of human trafficking by exploring the journey from victim identification through the pursuit of justice."

Attendees will learn how multidisciplinary teams — law enforcement, prosecutors, survivor leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocates — work together to support victims and hold traffickers accountable.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina will serve as the evening’s keynote speaker, providing insight into current human trafficking trends, challenges faced by law
enforcement, and the importance of coordinated community response efforts.

The keynote will be followed by an expert panel discussion featuring leaders in anti-trafficking work including:

• Feride Castillo, director and co-founder, ECLI-VIBES
• Det. Sgt. James Johnson, Suffolk County Police Department Human Trafficking Investigations Unit
• Inv. Sgt. Erin Meunkle, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative
• Deputy Unit Chief ADA Vanessa Overland, Suffolk County District Attorney’s HEAT Unit
• Laura Mullen, Survivor Expert, Advocate & Co-Founder, ECLI-VIBES
  

They will share real case examples, highlight collaborative strategies, and explain how community members can play
an active role in recognizing and responding to trafficking.

The program will conclude with a live Question & Answer session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the panel.

Who Should Attend: Community members, educators, healthcare professionals, social service providers, faith leaders, students, and anyone interested in learning how to recognize signs of trafficking and strengthen the community’s response.

RSVP or Contact for More Information: Sharon Boyd at 631-451-6146, or email: womenservices@brookhavenny.gov.