The St. Ignatius Police Department is the first agency in Lake County, and among the first in Montana, to sign on to a new initiative that aims to combat human trafficking.

“Given the ongoing concern surrounding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and human trafficking in our region, improving information sharing and early reporting is an important step in protecting vulnerable individuals,” said Mission Police Chief Jason Acheson in a press release announcing the partnership.

Simply Report is a new platform adopted by the Montana Department of Justice in May, in tandem with the relaunch of Montana’s Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-833-406-STOP. According to Acheson, the initiative is a partnership between the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation Human Trafficking Unit, the Safe House Project and participating law enforcement agencies.

Simply Report was developed and is run by Safe House Project, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to combatting human trafficking. In addition to calling the hotline number at 1-833-406-STOP, Montanans can now report human trafficking at simplyreport.com or by downloading the Simply Report mobile application.

As a partner in the program, St. Ignatius Police is now able to receive and review relevant reports.

“While a report may not initially involve St. Ignatius, it may involve other parts of Lake County or the Flathead Indian Reservation,” said Acheson, noting that this step helps his department share information more efficiently with the appropriate agency when necessary.

“Our partnership also allows us to view other submitted tips that come in across Montana which could also affect our area,” he said. “That information sharing is important.”

Acheson said the Simply Report app and website and the hotline give citizens concerned about an incident of trafficking a way to file a report.

Under the new platform, reports are initially reviewed using “survivor-informed artificial intelligence,” which is designed to help identify high-priority tips based on behavioral indicators of trafficking.

Reports that contain indicators of human trafficking are then routed to the appropriate law enforcement agency or trusted partners for review and follow-up.

“The AI is designed to assist — not replace — our role and law enforcement investigations,” said Acheson.

According to Supervisory Agent Andrew R. Yedinak of the DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation Human Trafficking Unit, there are no other local law enforcement agencies in Lake or Sanders counties currently using the program.

However, he noted that “several agencies in other parts of the state already implemented the platform and are seeing positive results.”

“That's one of the reasons I decided to bring the program to St. Ignatius,” said Acheson, who learned about Simply Report while attending the annual Montana Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, held June 8-12 in Helena.

“Even if a report doesn't directly involve our jurisdiction, I can review incoming information for intelligence or investigative leads that may benefit a neighboring agency or one of our law enforcement partners,” he said. “Human trafficking investigations often cross jurisdictional boundaries and having access to these reports allows us to share timely information that otherwise might never reach the agency that needs it.”

The platform helps users recognize warning signs of trafficking, while allowing them to anonymously report indicators directly to authorities. Simply Report does not require a user to share their location or identity.

The LifeGuard Group launched the hotline in 2019 and has fielded 637 calls, text messages and live chats before recently transferring the phone number to the Montana Department of Justice.

“The LifeGuard Group did some incredible work over the last few years with the hotline and I’m very grateful for their commitment to ending human trafficking in Montana,” said Attorney General Austin Knudsen in a press release announcing the handover.

In 2025, DOJ agents worked 64 human trafficking-related cases in Montana and opened 21 investigations that have been or will be submitted for prosecution. Of those 21 cases, 11 were sex trafficking, six were labor trafficking, two were human smuggling and two were illicit massage businesses.

The DOJ advises citizens to be familiar with the following potential indicators of sex trafficking:

• Young person that is very hesitant to engage in conversation. Eyes are always downcast, avoiding eye contact, especially with men. Poor physical state — tired, malnourished, or shows signs of physical abuse or torture.

• Seems to have trouble responding to what their name is or what location (city or even state) they are in. (Victims’ names are often changed, as are their whereabouts; they typically do not stay in one location for long — at times for 24 hours or less).

• Wearing clothes that do not fit the climate or the situation such as short shorts or skirts, tank tops and no jacket in the middle of winter.

• Lack of control over money and personal possessions like bags, IDs or documents. May also be carrying very few possessions in a plastic bag.

• May be accompanied by a dominating person or someone they seem fearful of. That controlling person may also be someone who does not seem to “fit,” such as a much older individual, an individual of a different race, or someone displaying behavior seemingly inappropriate with the suspected victim.

• Young girl or boy hanging around outside a convenience store, truck stop, casino or other location. May be approaching different vehicles or men they do not seem to know.

Those who believe they may be witnessing human trafficking are advised to call 911 if the situation is an emergency; to not intervene and remain at a safe distance from the suspected trafficker; and, if possible, to take images with a cellular device of the suspected trafficker, victim and vehicle license plate.

In non-emergency situations, call or text 1-833-406-STOP (1-833-406-7867) or visit simplyreport.com.