CSUEB alumnus authors new book on human trafficking
Ryan Cantrell '98 holds a copy of his new book, "Modern Slavery." (Photo: Ryan Cantrell)
- November 20, 2013 5:00am
Cal State East Bay alumnus Ryan Cantrell '98, criminal justice, has used his experience as an officer with the Hayward Police Department to write a training book, Modern Slavery: Investigating Human Trafficking (A Detective's Guide)
It was while working as a high school resource officer that he first realized the extent of human trafficking in the Bay Area. In an interview with the Pleasanton Weekly, he said that when he had to track missing teenage girls and what he found was shocking. "They take 13- to 14-year-old girls, they recruit them off the street or in the mall, and the average time is about 48-hours to get them out on the street," said Cantrell.
Concerned with the grim situation, he applied to the vice unit, where he learned to recognize human trafficking in many forms. Cantrell was inspired to write his book after working on a large scale brothel case. It made him realize that there were more effective ways to prosecute and convict pimps and exploiters, and bring justice to the women and children that have become victim to these horrific crimes.
Currently working as a supervisor of the patrol division, Cantrell continues to bring awareness to the subject of human trafficking and its victims. He has held multiple training seminars for companies such as PG&E, to make them aware of the indicators of human trafficking crimes.
Visit the book's Facebook page for more information.
--Yasmine Alfakey