To address the demand for commercial sex, street-level and web-based reverse stings have been conducted in the county. In May 2004, the Panama City Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office collaborated on a four-day reverse sting, which resulted in 72 men being arrested. Undercover officers posed as prostituted women to target men soliciting purchased sex. The undercover officers used a wire to record everything potential sex buyers asked for. Although soliciting prostitution was only a misdemeanor, police officials said it was not the charge that would deter this illegal action, but the knowledge that buyers’ wives and families might find out.

In August 2022, several local agencies and the FBI took part in a large-scale prostitution operation in the Panhandle that resulted in the arrest of at least 17 people. Panama City Police said in a news release they participated in the operation on August 4 and August 5. They added that Panama City Beach Police and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office were part of the enforcement action. Not many details were released about the operation, but Panama City Police released the names and charges of those arrested, including 7 male sex buyers. Charges included possession of drugs and paraphernalia, procuring for prostitution, traveling to meet a minor for sexual activities, use of a computer to solicit a minor, and deriving support from proceeds of prostitution.