February 18, 2006
When constabulary duty's to be done, to be done
A policeman's lot is NOT a happy one
Citing public pressure, Spotsylvania County's sheriff said yesterday that he has suspended the practice of allowing detectives to receive sexual services during prostitution investigations, a technique that brought the quiet Virginia exurb attention from across the nation and around the world."As Sheriff, I understand the feelings and concerns the citizens of this county have expressed," Sheriff Howard D. Smith said in a statement. "And I empathize with those feelings."
Spotsylvania detectives on assignment to crack down on prostitution in county massage parlors visited Moon Spa three times in January and paid for massages, baths and sexual acts on four occasions, court documents show. On one occasion, they left a $350 tip, records show.
Smith and William F. Neely, the county's top prosecutor, said the sexual acts were necessary because the masseuses had poor English skills and would have been unable to make clearly spoken offers of sex for money. Such offers and evidence that more than touching occurred are needed to make a case under Virginia law, they said. Only unmarried detectives were assigned to the cases, Smith said.
Posted by mayor mcsleaze at February 18, 2006 01:58 PM
