WPRO News
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza along with members of the city police force announced the arrest of twenty-two “johns” as a part of an ongoing prostitution sting, Operation Backpage.
The operation is meant to curb solicitation for sex, specifically through the website Backpage.com. Providence Police posted several ads for on the website advertising sex for sale; undercover female police officers then met with several men at four different hotels and arrested them.
“If you are a so-called pimp managing women for the purpose of procurement for sex for hire, we’re coming after you,” said Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.
Mayor Elorza said he and his legal team are working to limit online sexual solicitation.
“I’ve instructed my law department to seek out all legal avenues to either shut Backpage down here in our city, in our state, or take the appropriate measures so that it can’t continue to be used in this way,” said Elorza.
