In an effort to combat consumer-level demand for commercial sex, the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department has been known to conduct reverse sting operations targeting individuals seeking to purchase sex. For example, in 2018, Rancho Cucamonga Police Detectives conducted a 9-day operation called “Operation Safe Child,” which targeted adult suspects who attempted to lure a minor child to meet in a public place to engage in sexual acts. The investigation resulted in the arrest of nine men on charges of PC 288.2 (a) – Send Harmful Matter to a Minor, PC 288.3 (a) – Arrange to Meet Minor for Sexual Acts, and/or PC 288.4 (b) – Meet Minor for Sexual Acts. Detectives used an unmonitored social media account. The suspects initiated a conversation on the social media app and started chatting with someone they believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The account was actually an undercover law enforcement account used by detectives for various investigations. Eight suspects sent nude pictures of themselves to the decoy, and all nine suspects agreed to meet the decoy in a public place where they could engage in sexual acts. Additionally, all nine suspects went to the agreed upon meeting location in Rancho Cucamonga to meet the minor for sex acts, where detectives were waiting to arrest them upon arrival. These locations included various parks and public parking lots throughout the city. The identities and photos of arrested offenders were included in public reports by police.

In January 2019, in conjunction with Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department participated in the fifth annual “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” enforcement operation. More than 90 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and task forces from across California participated. The three-day statewide effort aimed at combatting prostitution and sex trafficking took place between January 24, 2019 and January 26, 2019. During that time, the San Bernardino County Task Force conducted enforcement operations consisting of 2-3 operational phases per day. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects, in addition to investigators successfully identifying and rescuing four adult victims of sex trafficking. Operations were conducted throughout the county and specifically within the cities of San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Hesperia. Specific areas were selected for enforcement by investigators, due to the high volume of activity and advertisements directly related to the commercial sex industry. The operations consisted of street-level enforcement, web-based operations, and search warrants.

In 2021, as a part of the seventh “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild,” 62 suspects were arrested for various violations associated with human trafficking, pimping, pandering, prostitution, loitering, and/or related crimes. Of those arrests, six suspects were arrested for pimping and pandering of an adult and one suspect was arrested for human trafficking of a minor. Operations were conducted throughout the county and specifically within the cities of San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and Victorville. Specific areas were selected for enforcement by investigators, due to the high volume of activity and advertisements directly related to the commercial sex industry. The operations consisted of street level-enforcement, online advertisement enforcement, and offender enforcement by state parole and county probation officers. In addition, four firearms were located by investigators during suspect arrests and contacts. During the operation, investigators also identified and successfully rescued 14 victims of commercial sex trafficking. Of those victims, 13 were adults and one was a juvenile (17 years old). Victim support and services were provided by the Open Door Program of San Bernardino. Open Door – Family Assistance Program is a non- profit organization that supports victims of human trafficking within San Bernardino County.