Working vice could be the best job ever, right? It’s probably not what you think…

Policing the sex trade can be a dangerous business, and it presents unique ethical challenges for undercover officers. The job is certainly nothing like Miami Vice. Should law enforcement even concern themselves with consenting adults who trade sex for money? Although vice units were once commonplace, the stigma around some crimes has lessened over time (i.e. illegal gambling, prostitution, public indecency) and agencies deployed resources elsewhere.

Some typical vice duties may include:

Witnessing lewd criminal sex acts in public places.

Hearing the heartache of betrayed loved ones.

Maintaining a separate, false, undercover identity.

Pretending to be an eager participant in future sexual crimes.

Investigating and testifying about the underworld of human trafficking.

Walking into dangerous situations, sometimes without weapons.

In recent years, the plight of human trafficking victims has generated publicity and many agencies have reevaluated their investigative efforts. By most estimates, the illegal sex trade economy is estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars (see this link for more information and statistics on human trafficking from the Polaris Project). Even veteran undercover officers are generally shocked to realize the number of victims and “independent” prostitutes trafficked by other people. In my own observations, a significant percentage of online advertisements for prostitution are connected with human traffickers, organized crime, and/or pimps taking advantage of a vulnerable population.

Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Online (http://www.tbo.com/storyimage/TB/20150412/ARTICLE/150419787/AR/0/AR-150419787.jpg).

The reality of the sex industry is a far cry from the rosy façade portrayed for the benefit of customers. Of course, fake happiness is good marketing. After all, clients are paying to live out their own fantasies, not get mired in someone else’s tragedy. Customers don’t want to admit their illicit fantasy might not be realistic. Few people engage in prostitution because life has been a dream; more likely they are burdened with nightmares. Traffickers and pimps capitalize on these tragedies for their own benefit, exacerbating a miserable cycle.

Undercover police officers - perhaps especially those in vice units - see the stark contrast between the “normal” and criminal worlds. Detectives watch dreams crumble, hear accounts of sadistic violence, and see otherwise shameful criminal acts. Traffickers or pimps sometimes arrive to protect their source of income, which leads to entertaining lies, occasional foot chases, and a lifetime of untellable stories.

Admittedly, this author is biased after seeing victims rescued from dangerous traffickers…and the realization that human trafficking often occurs in plain sight. At a minimum, law enforcement agencies should be aware that these crimes are likely occurring in their communities.

A screenshot of online advertisements for the sex trade. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Online (http://www.tbo.com/storyimage/TB/20150202/ARTICLE/150209865/AR/0/AR-150209865.jpg)

Departments should monitor online criminal activity and engage local businesses where this activity occurs. Agencies should also develop clear policies regarding officer conduct while investigating vice cases, with an emphasis on robust monitoring to ensure officer accountability and recovery of evidence. Rescuing trafficking victims is worth the effort.

Are vice investigations an appropriate investment for law enforcement agencies? What do you think?