October 30, 2026 – Placer County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Special Operations Unit recently conducted a two-day human trafficking operation in partnership with the Rocklin Police Department, Roseville Police Department Crime Suppression Unit, Placer Special Investigations Unit, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, and Stand Up Placer.

The operation focused on individuals attempting to purchase sex, sometimes referred to as “johns.”

Over the two-day operation, 21 sex buyers were contacted in Placer County. All 21 were cited for soliciting prostitution under Penal Code 647(b)(2), and four also received citations for drug possession. One individual was also found to be carrying a concealed, loaded firearm without a permit and will face additional charges under Penal Code section 25400.

But the operation was about more than making arrests or issuing citations. It was also an opportunity to educate.

After each contact, detectives and representatives from Stand Up Placer spoke with the individuals about the impact their actions can have and the connection between the purchase of sex and human trafficking.

Human trafficking is complex, and there is no single approach to addressing it. In Placer County, law enforcement and our community partners work from several different angles, including identifying and supporting survivors, investigating traffickers and addressing the factors that can contribute to exploitation.

View video here.

Traffickers often target vulnerable people, including young people and runaways, and may control nearly every aspect of their victims’ lives. Much of the trafficking we see in Placer County involves solicitation online and through dating apps.

Help is Available

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, help is available 24/7.

Stand Up Placer can be reached at (800) 575-5352, and confidential webchat is available through StandUpPlacer.org.

Stand Up Placer provides confidential emergency shelter for survivors, along with help navigating social services, case management and other services designed to help survivors move from the life they fled toward a safer, more stable future.

Source: Placer County Sheriff’s Office