GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – With prostitution and sex trafficking making National news once again, Green Bay’s Police Chief says you don’t have to leave home to see it happening.
Sex Trafficking is something Green Bay Police works extra hard on.
Chief Andrew Smith says it can happen and has happened in Green Bay.
“Especially during big weekends when we have 70,000 people coming into town, there is also concern that someone is going to come here for some kind of prostitution to engage in.”
In many cases, children or teens are the targets.
“I don’t see a lower end. I see children in the single digits of age that are being trafficked to other people for the purposes of sexual abuse. It is absolutely heart wrenching to see it.”
Chief Smith says they are recruited using technology rather than face to face.
“The majority of the stuff that we see here comes from the internet.”
He says young girls tend to be the biggest target, but young boys are also targeted.
In many cases, pimps look for children that are having a tough life at home and are a support system for them.
“He is the one that feeds them, houses them, gives them money to spend, and of course it is all based on what they earn for him through prostitution.”
He says all parents should watch what their children are doing online no matter what age they are.
