The myths and realities of Human Trafficking on the streets of America

By Greg Mellen

Happy Medina didn’t set out to become one of the foremost experts on human trafficking in
Orange County, or the country, for that matter. But as he learned more, the father of four girls found his purpose and passion.

Medina was 20 years into his career when the chance came to join a task force investigating
and prosecuting human trafficking. Despite being illegal everywhere, human trafficking is one of
the least understood crimes among law enforcement and civilian populations. Estimated as a
$150 billion criminal enterprise worldwide with upward of 40 million to 50 million victims, human
trafficking is often thought of as prostitution — a so-called victimless crime that is anything but.
“I didn’t know what human trafficking was,” Medina admits. “I was in the last third of my career
and I really wanted to do something I felt that I would be passionate about.”

Once Medina saw how vulnerable and exploited the victims were, he said, “it opened my eyes”
to a world far removed from the mythologized portrayal in popular culture.

For the final eight years of his career with the Anaheim Police Department, Medina was
attached to the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force as an investigator and provided
training on human trafficking across the state.

During that time, the O.C. Task Force became lauded as a trailblazer in prosecuting human
trafficking. The Task Force literally helped rewrite the book in understanding and helping treat
prostitutes as most often victims rather than perpetrators of crime, and partnering with social
service groups to help the victims.

Since he retired in 2022, Medina has provided lectures, workshops, and training on the subject
to law enforcement, prosecutors, social service groups, victim advocates, medical professionals,
and the general public. Learn more about his work and services on his LinkedIn page.

Medina sat down with Behind the Badge to talk about the still shadowy and misunderstood
world of human trafficking.