Milwaukie Police, Clackamas County Sheriff host interagency sex trafficking sting

Clackamas County, OR – This month Milwaukie Police led a joint mission with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office targeting purchasers/sellers of sex and human traffickers.

During the mission staffed by dozens of Detectives, Deputies, Officers and Agents, investigators posed as various decoy individuals attempting to engage others using various online based websites and applications. Investigators were supported in the field by marked arrest and interview teams. Many individuals who were engaged online, voluntarily discontinued those conversations upon mention of details which lead to criminal acts.

Five people contacted through online platforms agreed to some form of criminal sexual act. Upon the substantial step of arriving at an agreed location, they were taken into custody for the crime of Soliciting Prostitution and subsequently provided a citation release. Several of those offenders may be eligible to attend a “sex buyers academy” at their own cost as part of the judicial process. That course, presented by the Clackamas County Human Trafficking Multi-Disciplinary Team (CCMDT), is aimed at educating offenders on the community and individual effects of this crime.

Five additional victims of prostitution were contacted upon the substantial step of arriving at an agreed location and received citations. Those people were given the opportunity to speak with and receive services from counselors and advocates from community partners specializing in crime victims and sex trafficking. 

The Milwaukie Police Department along with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office wishes to sincerely thank members from The Molalla Police Department, Sandy Police Department, West Linn Police Department, Oregon City Police Department, Lake Oswego Police Department, Canby Police Department, Clackamas County Parole and Probation, Federal Bureau of Investigation-Portland Office including detached officers from the Portland Police Bureau and Tigard Police Department, Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Clackamas County Victim Services, and Safety Compass for their invaluable partnership and assistance in creating a successful sting and intervention opportunity.

These agencies include members of the CCMDT who meet regularly to discuss trends and plan effective strategies including missions like this.

"Safety Compass is regularly dispatched to support survivors of human trafficking identified in the local community by police officers. Working with the Clackamas County Multi-Disciplinary Team supports our commitment to ensuring that trauma informed support services are available to human trafficking survivors. We were excited and honored to be directly involved in this specific mission for human trafficking awareness and prevention month." -Esther Garrett, Safety Compass

January is human trafficking prevention and awareness month. If you or someone you know is a victim or survivor of human trafficking, there is local and national help available. Locally, contact Safety Compass at the survivor hotline 971-235-0021 or by visiting safetycompass.org. Nationally, dial 888-373-7888 or visit www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/report-human-trafficking. Learn more about Safety Compass and their local community efforts by visiting www.safetycompass.org.

The Milwaukie Police Department routinely participates with Interagency missions in retail theft, traffic safety and human trafficking in Milwaukie, Clackamas County and throughout Oregon.