As law enforcement agencies across the country mark National Police Week, a nonprofit staffed by veterans of the intelligence community and special operations forces is working to close one of the most persistent gaps in the fight against human trafficking: the shortage of dedicated intelligence support for investigators pursuing cases that move fast and leave little margin for error.
DeliverFund, founded by Nic McKinley, embeds professional analysts alongside law enforcement to handle the intelligence work that officers in the field cannot do simultaneously with surveillance, arrests, and victim recovery. The organization provides tools, technology, and analytical support designed to help investigators identify traffickers, map criminal networks, and assemble cases strong enough to survive prosecution.
“Law enforcement can’t do surveillance, kick in a door, rescue a victim, and do intelligence work simultaneously,” McKinley said. “So we do the intelligence work, and they do the action side of it.”
The model was put to the test earlier this year in Fort Worth, where DeliverFund analyst Alisha Willemssen spent two days embedded inside an undercover sting operation run by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. The operation, which targeted buyers of commercial sex rather than victims, resulted in the arrest of 20 men who arrived at a hotel intending to purchase sex. By focusing on demand, the approach aims to disrupt the economic engine that drives exploitation and trafficking.
DeliverFund’s reach has expanded significantly through recent technology partnerships. The organization now distributes data to more than 1,200 law enforcement agencies and more than 8,000 individual officers at no cost, funded entirely through private donors.
Human trafficking cases present particular challenges for law enforcement. Victims are often moved quickly across jurisdictions, digital evidence can disappear within hours, and traffickers operate through online platforms and commercial venues that blend into ordinary commercial activity. DeliverFund’s analysts are trained to work within that environment, turning fragmented leads into actionable intelligence before opportunities close.
National Police Week, observed May 10 through May 16, honors officers who have died in the line of duty and draws attention to those still serving in some of the most demanding roles in American law enforcement. For DeliverFund, the week is also an occasion to recognize the investigators and analysts working human trafficking cases year-round, often without public attention.
By: DNU staff