No room in Phoenix for Super Bowl sex traffickers

We are thrilled to host the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots for Super Bowl XLIX, along with the 1 million fans and tourists expected to gather here for the big game.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy fantastic weather, great local food and entertainment, and the most exciting sporting event of the year — everyone, that is, except human traffickers. Simply put, Phoenix and the National Football League will not tolerate human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children.

Large public events can attract criminals who traffic other humans. In preparation for Super Bowl XLIX, we put forward an aggressive and proactive strategy to discourage human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Phoenix area.

Phoenix's Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force brought together law-enforcement personnel, prosecutors, the business community and non-profits to target commercial sex-trade trafficking. We have trained police officers, airport staff and hotel employees on how to recognize the physical and environmental signs of human trafficking — and how to properly report it.

So far, collective anti-trafficking efforts have netted 13 federal prosecutions and more than 350 arrests of pimps and johns, and offered services to 26 juvenile victims and 180 adult victims.

The NFL supports all efforts to actively raise awareness and support potential victims. Working with United Way, the league has helped the Arizona 2-1-1 and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline increase resources to handle calls before and during the Super Bowl.

Also, local volunteer teams trained to engage and share information will distribute materials around the city with tips for recognizing the signs of trafficking victims and information on who to call for help.

Fans and visitors for Sunday's game also have an important role in identifying and protecting potential victims. Be on the lookout for key indicators of human trafficking, including:

-- Someone who seems fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive or tense

-- A person who has no possessions or ID, or claims to be just visiting but has no address

-- An individual who is not allowed to speak for themselves

-- Someone who is disoriented or has a disconnected "thousand mile stare"

The FBI has a complete list of warning signs. If you believe someone is being victimized by force, threat and coercion, please contact police right away. Remember, if you see something, say something.

We're excited about the Super Bowl and know you are too. It's an exciting, fun-filled tradition, and we're fortunate to host this international event in our community.

All of us can have a great time, showcase our city and do our job to protect the most vulnerable. There is too much at stake to drop the ball on this one.

Greg Stanton is the mayor of Phoenix, Jim Waring is the vice mayor of Phoenix and Jeffrey Miller is the vice president for security for the National Football League.