Police-Staged Bachelor Party

I was a juror in the trial of Pamela Weston, accused of prostitution in a police sting operation (Oct. 3). We jurors found the defendant guilty, given the law and the evidence as we saw it. But many of us are upset about peripheral issues in the case.

The decision to mount an operation of this scope, creating a full “bachelor party” setup involving 16 police detectives from three city departments, plus considerable backup and other expense, just to net two girls in a dance performance that included a minor sex act is just plain dumb. Surely there is more than enough crime out there--serious, violent, dangerous, hurtful crime--to occupy all the hours of police personnel that are available.

Besides being wasteful, these sordid operations tend to weaken the good image of the dedicated, true-blue officers who are laying it on the line for us everyday.

The current state of laws aimed at prostitution are clearly biased. “It’s not fair,” cried the defendant, and I have to agree. The terrible reality is that thousands of women are induced into sex acts every day by men--whether for money or consideration, or by intimidation or persistent pressure, or all of these.

When they oblige, women end up bearing the full brunt of law enforcement, while the payers and the persuaders walk away untouched. It takes two to tango, but only the woman pays.

ROGER KENNEDY

Irvine

DR, STEVE LOPEZ