Salt Lake City and Unified police announced more than 40 arrests in a prostitution sting that ended Friday, June 1, 2018. Image courtesy SLC PD via Twitter.
SALT LAKE CITY — Police in Utah’s capital city labeled prostitution a “scourge” when announcing the results of a four-day sting targeting people who buy and sell sex.
Salt Lake City police claimed to have arrested more than 40 people in connection with the effort, which also included the Unified Police Department.
Detective Greg Wilking of the Salt Lake City police department told the Deseret News prostitution is a crime that crosses social and racial boundaries.
“We have religious leaders, politicians, your homeless, your average Joe out there. We have everybody that solicits prostitution, all different walks of life, as well as the women that are engaged in prostitution come from all different walks of life,” he said. “The prostitution isn’t going away, but neither are we. We’re going to continue to focus on that.”
The operation included detective work both on the streets and at area hotels and motels, Wilking said. The arrests took place in Salt Lake City, as well as in other communities throughout the Salt Lake Valley.