The recent efforts of the Minneapolis Police Department's Violent Offender Task Force and the ongoing efforts of the Sgt. Gerald D. Vick Human Trafficking Task Force to vigorously pursue those who buy and sell women for the purpose of sexual exploitation represent a significant step forward in combating human sex trafficking in Minnesota.

Minnesota needs police officers like those on the task force who see through the "Minnesota Nice Guy" image of clean-cut and trustworthy men who do not mistreat women to the underlying criminal behavior on the part of "johns" who seek anonymity in order to continue to purchase human beings for sex. Minnesota needs police officers who hold sex traffickers accountable for using power and control to keep trafficking victims in the trafficking situation, whether or not they use explicit physical force. Under Minnesota law, a victim can never consent to being sold for sex.

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