COLUMBUS – Columbus police arrested nearly 170 would-be prostitution customers during a five-week sting operation involving 35 law enforcement agencies in 18 states.
The national coalition of law enforcement agencies from Los Angeles to Boston carried out the operation that led to the arrests of 167 “johns” in Columbus.
“The Columbus Division of Police decided to take part in this national operation mainly due to the fact that CPD’s Vice Unit received numerous complaints and concerns from citizens who are tired of seeing prostitution take over their neighborhoods,” said Lt. Ron Kemmerling of the Division of Police Vice Section.
Between June 29 and August 7, more than 1,300 “johns” were arrested in 18 states.
This is the first year the Columbus Division of Police has participated in the Cook County, Ill., Sheriff’s Office initiative. that ran for approximately 5 weeks from June 29 – August 7.
Columbus saw the third-highest number of arrests, behind the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (230) and the Seattle Police Department (204), Kemmerling said.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio also participated.
Kemmerling says 89 of the arrests took place on the streets of Columbus and another 78 over a four-day stretch as part of the Vice Unit’s hotel stings, during which more than $6,600 in cash was also seized.
So far this year, Kemmerling says Columbus police have arrested 370 “johns” for soliciting.