by JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA-TV
ARLINGTON — Arlington police say they’ve been getting citizen complaints about ads on the Internet offering “adult” services.
Callers say if some of the ads are really about more than massages and dating — isn’t that advertising prostitution?
“We do believe some of the girls have gone from the street to working online,” said Deputy Chief Jaime Ayala.
Police used to get complaints about working girls, mainly around Division Street. So in 2007, the department launched “Operation Spotlight,” making hundreds of arrests, and shaming johns and prostitutes by posting their photos on the Internet.
Arrests dropped from 240 down to only 53 last year.
Now — with prostitutes using the Web — Arlington police are launching “Operation You Never Know.”
“In essence, ‘you never know’ means you never know who’s calling you — or you never know who you’re calling,” Ayala said.
Police are now monitoring Web sites, making calls, and using other tactics they won’t discuss.
“We’ve made seven arrests on two different short operations, so we think it’s going to be effective to continue,” Ayala said.
Police insist the new campaign has nothing to do with big events at Cowboys Stadium, like next year’s Super Bowl or this weekend’s NBA All-Star game. Both are expected to boost the sex trade.
Ayala was asked whether Arlington police might have special anti-prostitution efforts for those events.
“Let’s just say, ‘you never know.'”
