Polk County, Florida, continues to be one of the worst offenders for sham efforts to combat human trafficking.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) is publicizing “Operation Autumn Sweep” as a “human trafficking operation” that netted 157 arrests, including 25 arrests of illegal immigrants. But the vast majority of those arrested are accused not of anything the average American would view as trafficking. Instead, they were allegedly either soliciting prostitution or offering to commit prostitution.
After posing online as either (adult) sex workers or prospective customers, cops arrested 47 people for allegedly offering to commit prostitution and 96 people for allegedly soliciting sex.
Operation Autumn Sweep also yielded three arrests of men traveling to meet an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old, and 10 people arrested on suspicion of unspecified other crimes.
Only one person was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.
What a surprise. At the head of these sham stings is Sheriff Grady Judd with an ambition of a corrupt politician glorifying himself with all these arrests of suspects not even proven guilty yet. His smug media presence really makes me sick. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprise a bit if he gets hit with corruption charges or worse in the future because a guy like him drunk with power would feel entitled to whatever he wants – until he gets caught.
Just once during one of these conferences, I’d like a reporter to ask him about murders, robberies, and drug traffic and his department’s handling of those pesky things.