Hawaii Cops Want Hooker Exemption

Police officers in Honolulu are asking state lawmakers to keep an amendment that exempted officers on duty from a bill cracking down on prostitution. The police say they need to be able to have sex with prostitutes during investigations so that they can be caught in the act. Opponents say the police can do their work without it, it invites misconduct, and human-trafficking experts say it could further traumatize sex workers, most of whom have been forced into the business. "Police abuse is part of the life of prostitution," said Melissa Farley of Prostitution Research and Education, who added that former prostitutes often report being forced into sex with police officers to avoid arrest.