Florida is behind only Texas and California when it comes to human trafficking. Although most people think of sex trafficking when they hear the term human trafficking, forced labor also falls under this category. To learn about human trafficking in Walton County and what law enforcement is doing to counter it, the Democratic Women’s Club of Walton County has invited Lt. Khaliqa Wheatley, of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, to speak to the group on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at the Coastal Branch Library. She will focus on breaking down the misconceptions, defining what human trafficking is, and what it looks like.
Lieutenant Wheatley is a 14-year law enforcement professional who is currently assigned to Human Resources as the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator. Lieutenant Wheatley holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of La Verne and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University.
She is a member of the Crisis Negotiations Unit, Child Abduction Response Team (CART), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, American Society of Evidence-Based Policing, Board Member for the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, United Way Emerald Coast’s 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders 2021, and most recently, Scarlett Magazine’s Woman of The Year – Law Enforcement Officer (2022 and 2023).
Lieutenant Wheatley has received several hundreds of hours of training and gained her experience from holding various assignments to include major crimes investigations, patrol, human trafficking unit, honor guard, training unit, vice/narcotics investigations, District Attorney representation, continuous improvement between policing in Southern California and Florida.
Lieutenant Wheatley is consulted regarding all human trafficking cases at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to review and provide support to the primary investigators.
The meeting will last from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Join Lt. Wheatley and the group for pizza.
Author: Sowal Editor
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