Prostitution along Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley has been an ongoing problem for years, but in an effort to combat the problem some men who cruised the street Thursday looking for a "car date" ended up spending their evenings with a police officer. For the third time this year, Los Angeles Police Department vice units throughout the San Fernando Valley teamed up to carry out a task force operation on Lankershim that in the past has resulted with short term success in curbing the issue.
Three female officers went undercover as prostitutes, wearing scantily clothing and strolling the streets. When a male customer, referred to as a john, pulled up in a car or approached on foot and offered money in exchange for a sexual act, a nearby squad car would move in and make the arrest.
An hour effort on Thursday netted 32 people, most were men but a few prostitutes were booked as well, the Daily News reported. In a February, police made 26 arrests. Patch tagged along with Sgt. She echoed concerns of locals who've long complained about prostitution along Lankershim.
She spent most of her afternoon shift sitting in an old Toyota situated on a small side street off Lankershim. She was out of uniform and had several walkie-talkies and transmitters placed on her lap. Bluff said most male johns that are caught in the act don't return, but arresting them also has another trickle down effect. Bluff constantly kept her eyes on the undercover who was standing at the corner of the street about feet away.
The undercover was flanked on both sides by two other officers in regular clothing. One of them was casually walking around with his hands in his pockets, apparently trying to pass himself off as a neighborhood youth. The other was a man with scruffy hair who looked like a transient. He was leaning against a blank wall and kept nodding off. These officers, who are armed with concealed guns, are referred to as "ped safety" and provide security in case one of the undercover sex workers is threatened.
