This year, Super Bowl Sunday wasn't just about football.
Sunday saw the completion of a two-week police operation resulting in the arrests of 570 would-be prostitute customers, often called "johns," between January 15 and February 1.
Thanks to the united efforts of 37 law enforcement bodies in 17 states, the country is a safer place.
In a statement, Illinois' Cook County Sheriff, Thomas J. Dart, said,
This broad national movement should send a strong message to prospective johns that their 'hobby' is much more than a 'victimless' crime. It's particularly meaningful that this sting culminated on the day of the Super Bowl, which unfortunately has emerged as a prominent haven for sex trafficking.
This the fourth year of the National Day of Johns Arrests, an effort initiated by Dart. Since its inception in 2011, the operation reportedly led to the arrest of almost 3,000 patrons of prostitution and, in this year alone, nearly $350,000 in fines.
It's not an easy task, either. Officers posted hundreds of fake advertisements on known sex-trafficking websites like Backpage and Craigslist, pinpointing those seeking out illicit sex.
Several female cops, risking their well-being, posed as prostitutes in order to catch potential customers.
And on top of the customer arrests, the Cook Country Sheriff's Department reports 68 victims of the industry were rescued and there were 23 arrests for pimping, including several pimps with records of abuse and kidnapping.
In short: Super Bowl Sunday was truly a day for celebrating.
Citations: Hundreds Of Johns Arrested In Sex-Trafficking Sting That Culminated On Super Bowl Sunday (Huffington Post)
