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The Hillsborough Sheriff’s office–the county that plays home to Tampa, Florida–has come under fire over a series of arrests made as part of an undercover operation dubbed Operation Park Cleanup. At the direction of Sheriff Chad Chronsiter, a sting arrested 11 men in a local park in September on the grounds they had solicited for sex.
Arrests took place on September 18 when officers nabbed the men, ages 37 to 76, and charged them with misdemeanors, not felonies. Nevertheless, the police department released the names and mugshots of the men involved to local media, as well as posted them on social media channels. None were charged with felonies, sex crimes, soliciting prostitution, human trafficking or anything that would require any of them to register as a sex offender. In essence, sheriff’s deputies charged the men with the intent to have public sex. Convictions carry a maximum punishment of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Yet, since 2017, only two men arrested in similar stings have faced convictions, according to The Tampa Bay Times. Moreover, Hillsborough County, where the arrests took place, has no record of complaints voiced about anyone, queer or straight, having sex in public areas or cruising.
Related: Police arrest nine men in “pot for sex” Grindr sting operation, publish mugshots in newspaper
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“People rendezvousing in public places is so common a theme that everyone knows what Lover’s Lane is, Lookout Point and similar places,” said Nadine Smith, the executive director of LGBTQ civil rights organization Equality Florida. “If police run across a couple of spring breakers having sex in the dunes, they’re more likely to tell them to go home and get a room, not arrest them and humiliate them by putting their mugshots out in the public.”
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Crystal Clark called the charges of homophobia against the sting operation “absurd, and quite frankly, offensive.” She further asserted that the police force does employ LGBTQ employees and that the police department organizes “significantly more operations targeting heterosexual individuals.”
“Public sex, regardless of one’s sexuality, is illegal,” Clark said in a statement, “and in the eyes of parents who must explain that behavior to their children who are exposed, it is vile. This operation was publicized to make it clear that parks are not intended for sex.”
Nevertheless, questions remain. If a heterosexual couple met in a park and discussed having sex, would police arrest them? Do two men agreeing to sex without exposing themselves deserve arrest and public ridicule?
For that matter, if Sheriff Chad Chronister were not up for reelection this year, would his deputies stage sting operations at all?
Mister P
Years ago we had an instance where they published names in the paper. It was very unfortunate that one of the arrestees hanged himself on gay pride day.
Stings are not good.
Mack
I guess there is no violent crime in that county since they have all the time in the world to spend at parks.
mallen
What is this 1950? You just lost my vote Chad. A stupid pre-election stunt to suck up to Republican voters. Shame on you.
Catholicslutbox
They’ve been doing this for a while.
It’s always old men. I’m surprised millennials are doing that.
Josh447
Boys will be Boys……at any age.
PanzerRider
It would seem that it is 1950. Cruising parks for a quick hookup? What’s the point? Take out your smartphone, download one of many apps that cater to such things, and cruise from the safety of your own home. It’s much easier and there is zero chance of ending up in jail with your mugshot published for the world to see. These idiots played a stupid game and it would seem they won a stupid prize.
FridM
That’s one reason why they are called pigs…
Ugly plastic Chad is a hanging chad. Like Sheriff Grady Judd in toothless Polk County, Florida he is a self loving camera media queen…. true for the Pasco county pig too.
Never would have had my vote…so Jump off of the skyway Chad… YOU are truly the vile one!
Jack Meoff
Men having sex in public spaces is selfish and antisocial behaviour that does not do our community any favours in terms of social acceptance so the law trying to clean up such behaviour is expected but the publishing of peoples identities is dangerous and uncalled for. Why ruin lives over a misdemeanor?
DarkZephyr
I do believe that this is homophobic and that woman trying to claim that its “insulting” to regard it as such can jump in a lake. That being said, I do have to admit that I don’t get why gay men are still cruising in parks in 2020 when there’s the internet and apps. But yeah, its preposterous to me that they are arresting men for merely agreeing to consensual sex.
Sam6969
I agree with you, that was clearly covered homophobia. However, as for the rest of your comment, many men would not meet in real life if they just had to share their picture. They would not pass that border. For many of them, criteria requiered on such apps put them out of the game. In public spaces it is easier for them to meet a partner, sometimes “out of their league” according to the standards found of those apps.
Sam6969
…and in gay clubs, the kind of population there has its set of discriminating criteria too. The most open-minded places are the public ones with a wider range of people, less conditioned.
If our societes were truly inclusive it would be even much easier.
Jim
You have to understand that when police do this it is a safe way for them to play out their own homosexual fantasies while denying that they have these urges.
o.codone
Agreed. I’ve seen so much cop bulge, they just put it all out there for the other cops and their victims to look at. A lot of it is substantial. Cop VPL. So hot.
rbernard
How can the police know what the intent was of those arrested?
Some people I know will cruise find a partner in the park and then bring them back home for shenanigans.
There is nothing wrong with that.
These cops did this to get a homophobic reaction from the public.
Kangol2
Targeting gay men for public sex is a waste of police and public resources, and has long been a feature of state homophobia. The sex should not be criminalized, and at most, if there are children in the park, the cops can tell the participants to stop and find another place to have sex if possible. Arresting them should end as public law and policy.
Why do men in 2020 engage in public sex? Some gay men are closeted/DL, working-class or poor, and may not have access to spaces like their own private homes (or apartments, motel rooms, trailers, etc.), private sex-related venues (bathhouses, etc.), and so seek out public venues for sex. Others like the broader experience of public cruising and sex, which includes an element of danger, including being targeted by cops, thieves, etc., but also the randomness, the immediacy, the thrill of connecting with someone they otherwise might not. This does not excuse violating laws, but it does explain why some people do it.
For the person saying you can download videos, etc., some people, especially now, crave the touch, particularly the erotic or intimate touch, of other human beings beyond a screen.
MrMichaelJ
Explain to children? That right there tells you this is bull$hit.
wooly101
Stupid, let the boys play. If junior asks questions, you can explain it to him or her over cookies and milk.
Kirk99
Public sex should not be tolerated especially if children are in the vicinity. I don’t want my kids to see anyone having sex in public. It’s not a gay exclusive thing. Adult “boys” should know better.
Jason
Sorry but these men are not victims.