Conversations with Joseph Travers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Travers.

Hi Joseph, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
If Not I, Then Who?

Saved In America was not an idea but a calling.

On September 21, 2009 I was reading an article from the Orange County Register, “Retired Terror Hunters Hope to End Child Sex Slavery”. This brought to mind the news I heard recently regarding a missing 17-year-old girl who left her parent’s home in New York. Brittanee Drexel was last seen on a hotel video in South Carolina on April 25th. Where was she?

As a former law enforcement officer and current Pastor and Private Investigator, I have seen countless cases of missing children. The statistics are grim and disheartening. I knew many children ended up being trafficked into human slavery and felt compelled to meet the “Terror Hunters”, to see if there was a common good we could work towards. I immediately made arraignments to meet these former special operations ‘Terror Hunters’. Through a series of meetings, I met a former Navy SEAL, Master Chief Kirby Horrell, who helped form Saved In America (SIA). It was decided after several meetings and operations that Saved in America would focus on preventing gang-member/child predator/slave traders from securing girls to traffic. This meant targeting children before they could be trafficked. Saved in America would find the missing children, the runaways like Brittanee.

Saved In America now has over 20 operators; all licensed and insured Private Investigators consisting of former Navy SEALs, Marine Recon Raiders, British SAS, and Police Officers. as well as Social Networking Investigators, a licensed MFCC parent coordinator, and tech ops/ human intelligence operators. SIA also has over 300 reserve operators (licensed investigators, military special operators, and current or retired local, state, and federal law enforcement officers) across the country. Saved In America has assisted parents and law enforcement in the recovery of over 275 successful child recoveries over the past nine years. The approaches and techniques used by Saved in America are documented in a book titled Investigation of Missing & Exploited Children: The Gateway to Child Sex Trafficking, 4th Edition.

Thank you ‘Terror Hunters’ for your inspiration, and in remembrance of Brittanee Drexel, who started and continues to drive Saved In America’s work.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Human trafficking is an expansive and devastating practice, selling humans into slavery around the globe. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses drugs, guilt, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.” Sex trafficking is sensationalized by Hollywood and films like the Taken series, but in reality, it is poorly understood. Sex trafficking, defined as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act” largely targets young girls, but can happen to people of any age and gender. Traditional assumptions around sex trafficking include the idea that trafficked girls were all brought to the U.S. from abroad or were prostitutes who entered it willingly. Some assumptions go so far as labeling sex trafficking as a non-issue in the United States that it happens in developing or corrupt countries. Misconceptions like this, in addition to a constantly evolving trade, have helped keep child sex trafficking prevalent. Sex trafficking, particularly trafficking of children under the age of 18 for sex, is all too common in the United States, and the victims aren’t obvious. As research is now finding, many victims in the U.S. are American. These victims don’t have the backgrounds or histories that people expect – they weren’t kidnapped or traded from afar. They are American runaways – young, tricked, and trapped. Sex traffickers in America aren’t individuals or groups but a diverse mixture of people, and the platforms they use for selling victims are changing. These constant challenges continue to affect the SIA team and the adjustment its operational methods.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
JOSEPH ANTHONY TRAVERS, CPI, CCDI, CMECI is a Member of the Human Trafficking Information Exchange Group, Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, Washington DC and I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and have been advanced to candidate for a Master’s of Science Degree with High Honors (4.0 GPA) from the California State University at Long Beach Graduate School of Criminal Justice Administration. I was also an Honor student (4.0 GPA) at Calvary Chapel Bible College. I am the current President of the National Association for Missing & Exploited Children, HelpRescueChildren.org.

I am an author of “Introduction to Private Investigation, Essential Knowledge and Procedures for the Private Investigator”, Charles Thomas Publishing 1995, 2nd Edition 2005, 3rd Edition 2015 (Listed in the United States Department of Justice- Office of Justice Programs), “The ORIGINAL Private Investigator’s Handbook & Almanac, CIA Investigation Academy Publishing 2010, 2nd Edition 2014, 3rd Edition 2016, 4th Edition 2022, “Investigation of Missing & Exploited Children: The Gateway to Child Sex Trafficking” 2017, 2nd Edition 2018, 3rd Edition 2019, 4th Edition 2020 the “Criminal Defense Investigator’s Handbook”, 2020, the “Information Technology & Internet Investigation Handbook”, 2021, “The Courtroom Testimony & Deposition Professional Investigator Handbook”, 2022, and “Concepts & Approach for the Professional Investigator Handbook”, 2023

I am also an Honorably Discharged Veteran of the United States Navy and a certified Law Enforcement Professional, possessing professional certificates from the California State Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission; Basic, Intermediate, Advanced Officer Training, Hostage Negotiations, and Field Training Officer Certificates. Mr. Travers has experience in Loss Prevention and Private and Personnel Security, having served as the Manager of Security in Southern California for McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

Additionally, I am a California State Licensed Investigator www.PeoplesDetective.com, since 1984, and my investigative work has been chronicled in People magazine twice and on news stations such as CBS, NBC Nightly News, ABC, Fox News, San Diego 10, HBO VICE, Dove TV, Newsmax, Full Measure News, KUSI, One America News, NewsNation, and The Daily Caller. My professional work has also been recognized in the front-page headlines of newspapers around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Los Angeles Daily News, Inland Empire Daily Bulletin, Orange County Register, OC Weekly, Veterans Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Risen Magazine, Canvas Rebel Magazine, and USA Today.

For ten years, I taught Professional Investigation and served as Director of Education for U.S. Colleges Incorporated, the largest Private Investigation school in the country at the time. I have testified as an expert witness and conducted investigations regarding Police Practices and Investigative Techniques in California State and United States Federal Courts.

I am also a former Police/ Fire Commissioner for the City of Oceanside, California from 2008 to 2020. and the former Chairman and Vice President for the Professional Investigators of California (PICA), a Member of the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Crimes Against Children Investigator’s Association (NCACIA), the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation (CESE), the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the Council of Association Leaders (COAL), and former President for the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), the Largest Private Investigation Association in the World, receiving the President’s Award in 2014 and the Investigator of the Year Award in 2015. My ministries include BiblesForMarines.com, Bibles for Frogmen, Born Again The Way Motorcycle Ministry, and Saved In America. As Executive Director for SavedInAmerica.org I have assisted parents and law enforcement with the recovery of over 275 young girls vulnerable to Child Sex Traffickers since December 2014

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
The Bible is my constant guide and companion in all my decision-making. I have read and continue to read all 66 books by 40 authors. The more I read the Word, the more I gain an understanding of my life’s purpose and direction.

Contact Info:

• Website: SavedInAmerica.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savedinamerica/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savedinamerica
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saved-in-america-488305ab/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/savedinamerica
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@savedinamerica8472/videos
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/savedinamerica/_created/