“What makes this case worse is that the alleged perpetrator is a law enforcement official who was sworn to protect and serve,” U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton.

“We will do this as often as needed in order to rid this department of those who can’t make up their minds as to whether they want to be a police officer or a thug” said Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong. This is the kind of attitude all of our states and municipalities must adopt. This case of trafficking is particularly disturbing because it involves a member of high-standing in the community (a police officer). Someone sworn to protect the citizens of their municipality has abused their power and victimized multiple women. Officer Sean McWhirter of the Memphis police department was charged on Monday, September 17^th with transportation of individuals in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution. There should be a zero-tolerance policy for his actions as an employee of the city of Memphis. Actions such as these deserve a zero-tolerance policy because McWhirter violated the human dignity of the women he victimized. No one deserves to be prostituted and dehumanized in the way McWhirter’s victims were. The zero-tolerance policy that is in effect regarding sex trafficking for the military, and other government contractors should be expanded to cover all state and municipal employees nationwide.  Currently there is no nationwide zero-tolerance policy even though the Federal Government sees it as necessary and important to implement their own policies for the military. Since we agree with the Federal Government and recognize this behavior as inherently wrong we believe it should be expanded to all municipalities and state agencies. Trafficking also has a very negative impact on the areas in which it operates making it detrimental to municipalities across the country if it is allowed to flourish. It also sets a poor example for people who look up to authority figures in their communities.

Officer McWhirter’s actions deliberately break his promise to serve and protect those residing in the Memphis area. Those purchasing these women should also be ashamed of themselves for engaging in this heinous crime. In a news article it mentioned that McWhirter allegedly had sex with one of the prostituted women, “in full view of other patrons of the nightclub, after just a week before saying they were available as prostitutes to patrons of the nightclub.” These are sick and disgusting actions because they are abusing vulnerable women and exploiting them in public. When people see a police officer acting in these ways they are taught to follow his example. People tend to follow the examples set by people in positions in authority making this act egregious.