Human trafficking and prostitution arrests are on the rise in Johnson County. The Overland Park Police Department conducted a vice sting in February that resulted in multiple arrests. Most of the suspects involved in that sting resided outside of Overland Park and Johnson County.
According to Gary Mason, public information officer, Overland Park Police, a lot of the arrests made in the past year involve suspects who are not residents of Johnson County. He said that a couple of minors have been arrested in the past as well. The vice unit works with the FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, a group that seeks to address the increase of domestic sex trafficking of children nationwide.
Mason said that Overland Park is a tempting target for human traffickers. Mason said that traffickers are using the internet more and more in order to conduct their business, requiring law enforcement to switch tactics.
The police now frequently look at websites in order to curb the practice of prostitution. According to Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass, the city sees increased activity of prostitution within hotels and sometimes even apartment communities. Patrick Dobson, professor, History, said that human trafficking, or slavery, has consistently been a part of the world.
And a lot of it is oriented around sex and labor. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Monday, February 10, Court of Appeals.
