Posted on 01/25/2005 2:16:35 PM PST by TChris
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Sometimes going undercover in Texas means no cover at all.
Houston police, long thwarted in their campaign against prostitution by an internal policy that barred officers from removing their clothes, have reaped results by shedding that unwritten rule.
The change in tactics that allows vice squad officers to undress in pursuit of evidence is part of a crackdown on suspected brothels that advertise themselves as day spas, lingerie modeling studios, massage parlors and "stress relief clinics."
Two investigations using the new rules have resulted in organized crime charges against six business proprietors and dozens of misdemeanor prostitution charges.
Police largely built their investigation through traditional detective work, such as surveillance, but Harris County prosecutor Ted Wilson said the department's ability to pose as naked clients was particularly useful.
"It helped," Wilson said on Monday. "It's something they can do, if necessary, to gather sufficient evidence."
Knowing police were not allowed to disrobe meant sex workers could ask customers to undress before propositioning them to determine if a potential client was an undercover officer.
The series of arrests in November are seen as a signal that Houston police have closed that loophole.
Where will they pin a badge?
The hookers will get smart. They'll offer hand/mouth to genital contact for free and see if the John goes along with it. I doubt that any police officer will allow that type of contact.
Thought that said "in brothel strings". I was expecting an article on police undercover attire.
If they really want to bag 'em, they ought to do this in Austin...
A lotta nekkid people in Austin.
Oh, that's where they hide the donuts.
Good to learn that all the crime against persons and property have been solved in the Crescent City.
Maybe they'll just tattoo it.
Houston is all out of real crime, huh?
How does a society benefit when the people enforcing the laws themselves become lawbreakers?
Austin doesn't anywhere near the amount of 'establishments' that Houston does, plus I'm told that the Austin joints are nowhere near the same quality. That's what the old-timers here say, at least.
Hey everyone, there isn't any crack down on prostitution going on in Houston. The thing is that recruitments were down for new trainees at the vice squad, so one the guys had this neat idea...
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