Former Deputy Sheriff Elizabeth Fildes
Former Deputy Sheriff and Human Trafficking Program Director, Erie County Sheriff’s Office; Human Trafficking Trainer/Consultant
Prior to retiring, Elizabeth Fildes served as the head of the Western New York Human Trafficking Alliance and as Program Director of Human Trafficking for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. After more than two decades as an Erie County deputy sheriff, she became a leading trainer and advocate on identifying and responding to human trafficking. Ms. Fildes has served as a consultant, technical-assistance provider, Spanish trainer, and subject-matter expert for federal anti-trafficking efforts.
“We must treat sex trafficking as a violent crime because the victims experience countless hours of sexual abuse and psychological torture. The traffickers who recruit them intentionally seek them out for monetary gain and exploit them with no regard for their life or well-being.”