Pasco is a city in Central Washington and has a population of roughly 79,000. It is the largest city and county seat of Franklin County, WA. Instances of prostitution and sex trafficking activity have been well-documented in the city and in surrounding areas for decades. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to local law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. Among the more serious crimes associated with the local commercial sex market is child sex trafficking.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. To identify and apprehend local sex buyers driving the prostitution and sex trafficking markets, the Pasco Police Department has been conducting reverse stings since at least 1980, if not earlier. The operations are usually conducted in response to complaints from residents and businesses, particularly in the downtown area. For example, in 1988, 13 male sex buyers were arrested during a street-level reverse sting operation in the city’s downtown area. On average, a small number of prostitution arrests are made per year since about 2010, compared to the mid 1990’s when officers arrested over 100 people a year. Local business owners have said that police have a done a great deal to rid the city of prostitution through efforts including anti-demand tactics. More recently, officials have been known to conduct web-based reverse sting operations.

In addition to reverse sting operations, local law enforcement has also arrested sex buyers through alternative investigations and/or in response to residential reports to police. For example, in 1965, police conducted a vice raid at three East Pasco homes in response to residential reports of suspected prostitution activity occurring within the homes. As a result of the investigation, five individuals were arrested, three of which were men arrested on soliciting for prostitution charges. According to police, prior to 1965, prostitution arrests were scarce despite the pervasiveness of prostitution activity occurring in the city. Police hoped that initiating a raid such as this one would help future demand oriented operations be conducted in the future. The identities of arrested offender were included in reports by local media outlets.