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A number of NW Ohio law enforcement officers gained recognition this week for their work fighting juvenile sex trafficking.

During the Ohio Attorney General's Law Enforcement Conference in Columbus the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force was awarded with the Distinguished Law Enforcement Group Achievement Award.

In 2006, the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force was formed to address the crime in the Toledo area.  

The group is one of 44 that operate under the FBI's Innocence Lost National Initiative.

The task force has recovered or identified more than 100 juvenile victims of prostitution since its inception and is involved in 35 active investigations. Since 2010, it has charged 20 subjects.

Members also participate in the Ohio Attorney General's Human Trafficking Commission and developed and teach an in-depth OPOTA course on trafficking investigation methods.

Three members of the group traveled to Serbia, recently, to meet with some 800 law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and non-governmental agency representatives on ways to address that nation's significant human trafficking problem.

"We work within the community to find these victims," said Special Agent Dustin, who supervises the task force. "We have arrested and prosecuted a lot of pimps, but at the same time we haven't lost touch with the victims."

The following officers make up the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force:

Special Agent James E. Hardie, Task Force Coordinator, FBI

Special Agent Laura E. Lebo, FBI

Victim Specialist Jennifer Jo Meyers, FBI

Special Agent David W. Pauley, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Trooper Stacy L. Stidham, Ohio State Highway Patrol

Investigator David R. Gillispie, Lima Police Department

Detective Scott C. Moskowitz, Perrysburg Township Police Department

Detective Peter J. Swartz, Toledo Police Department

Agent Alessandra Norden, Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Detective Amy J. Harrell, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office