Cops: Catching predators our job

FREMONT — Police say they're going after child predators the right way, and that a local group of private individuals is not. In response to videos posted by Fremont-based group Dads Against Predators at social networking sites, local law enforcement leaders talked about what they do to protect children. Proactive and reactive The group mimics the tactics employed on the TV program "To Catch A Predator," luring men by posing as children, arranging a meeting for sex and then exposing them on camera when they arrive. Law enforcement acknowledged that the while group's intentions are good, they are a form of "vigilante justice." "In Fremont and Sandusky County, we have the resources available to help victims and will do so at a moment's notice," a news release from the Sandusky County sheriff, the prosecutor and police chiefs in the county states. Here are some of the more recent proactive measures they've taken to keep child predators in check: • In January, county and federal law enforcement conducted an undercover sting operation that resulted in 15 arrests for prostitution-related charges. They said that activity can lead to sexual assaults and human trafficking. • In February, county and federal law enforcement did a sweep to make sure local sex offenders are living where they claimed to be, They also worked to track down those who had not registered. That sweep led to eight arrests. • In July, county and federal law enforcement again came together, this time with the federal Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, to arrest and prosecute child predators. Ten people were arrested on felony charges during the operation. • In September, Bliss began organizing county law enforcement agencies to form a countywide task force to fight against child exploitation. • This month, Bliss and ICAC organized a child exploitation training seminar for local law enforcement. But most of what police do is reactive, Hilton said. That is, someone will report a child sex crime to them, they will investigate and possibly arrest a suspect. "We'll take reports of potential rape cases, importuning (soliciting children for sex) cases which are usually investigated through our detective bureau. The complaints are made by family members and victims themselves," he said. "That stuff is unfortunately very frequent." It's also, unlike the local vigilante group's content, largely done out of the public eye, Hilton said. Prosecutors aren't able to prosecute cases on evidence brought forth by the predator trapping group. County prosecutor Beth Tischler said in order to bring importuning charges against a suspect, the person soliciting the suspect for sex must be a law enforcement officer or an actual child. Hilton also argued that when the group shows the public how they attract predators online, similarly to how law enforcement does it, effectively teaches predators how to avoid being caught and makes law enforcements' job more difficult. Predator trapping has followers online, coming Friday. Also coming soon, law enforcement provides data on arrests and prosecutions on child sex charges.