Law enforcement officials from across the region Thursday touted the success of a wide-reaching child exploitation investigation that resulted in more than 275 arrests in May.
“Operation Broken Heart” involved 62 federal and regional law enforcement organizations across five counties.
“The dirty old man stereotype no longer applies,” said Homeland Security Special Agent Claude Arnold at a Thursday news conference. “The perpetrators in these cases come from all walks of life.”
Unfortunately kids know technology better than we do and know where to hide. Fortunately, our team knows where to hide, too. - Lt. Andrea Grossman, LAPD¿s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
According to authorities, those arrested include a retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy involved in child pornography, a special needs teacher’s assistant who sought sex with two children, and a 64-year-old computer programmer who hoped to meet a 15-year-old at a public park for sex.
In addition, parole officers arrested 186 sex offenders accused of violating the terms of their parole by possessing child pornography or approaching minors in public places.
Throughout the operation, detectives often pretended to be minors to lure predators into sting meetings, said Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese.
In addition to arrests, officers invited the public to a series of discussions on Internet safety and about 600 people attended the sessions.
“Parents are naive,” said Lt. Andrea Grossman of the LAPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “Unfortunately kids know technology better than we do and know where to hide. Fortunately, our team knows where to hide, too.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-child-predator-arrests-20140626-story.html
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