Tulare is a city in inland California’s Tulare County, about midway between Bakersfield and Fresno.  It has a population of approximately 71,000. The Tulare Police Department has conducted reverse stings in order to address community complaints about prostitution, including stings that specifically target sex buyers. In July 2007, for example, seven men were arrested after they solicited police decoys during a street-level reversal in the downtown area. The sting followed a similar operation targeting sex sellers. In May 2014, a similar “sweep” was conducted targeting both male sex buyers and prostituted women, and netted four buyers. Following the 2014 reversal, the identities of all of the arrestees were publicized by local media outlets.

In January 2019 a web-based reverse sting was conducted in Visalia, and was a collaboration with Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Visalia Police Department, and Madera and Tulare counties sheriff’s departments.  Investigators posted adds on well-known escort sites such as “Skip the Games” and “Cityxguide.”  An undercover decoy was used, and her photo was posted along with the following message: “I’m HOsting lets play 2night!!!” A suspect reached out to the decoy through a text message and solicited sex in exchange for cash, and agreed to meet at a hotel parking lot in Visalia, where he was arrested.

In December, 2022, the Visalia and Tulare Police Departments, with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and ATF, conducted an enforcement detail regarding human trafficking and prostitution. Over the course of the two-day investigation, officers arrested four men for solicitation of prostitution. One of the men was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance and several outstanding warrants. All suspects were booked into a detention facility while they awaited trial.