Tampa police plan to battle Super Bowl week prostitution problem

Reported by: Elizabeth Dinh
Email: edinh@wfts.com
Last Update: 1/26/2009 10:29 pm

Tampa Police plan to battle Super Bowl week prostitution problem

TAMPA, FL -- Ads on the internet are one way Tampa police say they found out about numerous prostitutes coming to town during Super Bowl XLIII. "The reason we know that is we see a gigantic uptick in internet activity," Tampa Police Chief Bret Bartlett said. "The ladies post the fact that they're coming into town."

Thirteen people were arrested Monday after Tampa police went undercover in West Tampa on a reverse prostitution ring. An undercover female officer posed as a prostitute, while men who asked to buy sex were handcuffed and taken away.

Police say they know a few parts of town are known as prostitution areas: some of Dale Mabry, Drew Park, and part of Nebraska Avenue. But, because some prostitutes are telling customers they're going to Tampa during Super Bowl week, police say they'll be looking beyond the usual spots to make arrests.

Capt. Bartlett wants to lower prostitution problems in Tampa, but says police will be watching over the entire city to make sure everyone feels safe. "No matter who you are, whether you're a fan, anybody else, you get caught breaking the laws of this city, of this state, you're going to take a trip across town and you may miss the game because of all this stuff."

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