Alleged Prostitute Humiliated in Sex Sting by Police Officer

By: Brooklyn Middleton/Asst. Opinion Editor

The manner in which Christina Vavra was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff Department is humiliating and incompatible with Florida’s Law Enforcement Officer Ethical Standards of Conduct Principles 2 and 5.

Vavra was arrested for prostitution, specifically, for a $20 blow-job.   Thank god this dangerous criminal is off the streets, society can all sleep safer and sounder now.

In addition to reportedly throwing money at Vavra, Miami New Times reports that Vavra asked the undercover cop to show his penis, knowing that they are obviously not allowed to do so.   The officer then pulled out a prosthetic penis and Vavra began oral sex.   It is worth mentioning, the officer was driving his vehicle the entire time. Furthermore, its reported that the officer then had to slam on his brakes because of a possum in the road causing Vavra to hit her head on the dashboard.

According to Florida Law Enforcement Officer Ethical Standards of Conduct, Principle 2 states, “Police officers shall refrain from any conduct in an official capacity that detracts from the public’s faith in the integrity of the criminal justice system.”

If having an alleged sex worker perform oral sex on your prosthetic penis while driving does not “detract from the public’s faith in the integrity of the criminal justice system,” then “integrity” is a concept that I do not understand. Perhaps the Manatee Sheriff’s Office will enlighten us as to what constitutes “integrity” and how this specific officer upheld this pledge by driving a vehicle while an alleged prostitute was between his legs.

Principle 5 states, “Police officers shall treat all members of the public courteously and with respect.” Specifically, Principle 5, section 2 reads, “No police officer shall ridicule, mock, deride, taunt, belittle, willfully embarrass, humiliate, or shame any person to do anything reasonably calculated to incite a person to violence.” The humiliating experience of going down on a prosthetic penis, having money thrown at you, and hitting your head on the dashboard, directly violates this, as it absolutely humiliates and shames.

In an interview with FIU Student Media, Keith Kameg, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said “This is not our case and its recommended that you contact the arresting agency.”

David Bristow, Manatee Sheriffs Department’s public information officer, said, “You’re not from around here so you don’t know how many complaints we get about prostitutes.  So we’re going to continue trying to keep the prostitutes off the streets.”

No, I’m not “from around here.” Regardless, our culture cannot allow for gross humiliation of sex workers by a force who are supposed to uphold a higher integrity. And I do still have a comment for them: high five guys, we are a safer society now that a sex worker was humiliated and arrested for an alleged $20 blow-job. Bravo.