Phoenix council approves deal with FBI to combat child exploitation
Jan 16, 2014, 5:00 AM | Updated: 9:04 am
The Phoenix Council voted to approve a $65,000 per year mutual agreement with the FBI to support the Child Exploitation Task Force.
“With the Super Bowl coming to the city in 2015, we see this (the game) as a great economic opportunity, but others see it as an opportunity to take advantage of our children,” said Phoenix Councilman Sal Diciccio.
The Super Bowl reportedly attracts more traffickers than any other event in the United States. Councilman Diciccio said it involves young kids, usually between the ages of 12 and 14.
“It’s a slave trade, and it’s happening right here in our city,” he said.
The $65,000 per year mutual agreement is capped at $135,000 and is designed to work hand-in-hand with local police, addressing the sex trade and exploitation of children.
“We’re going to be looking at putting together the best proposal in the country dealing with human trafficking, and the message is going to be really clear: Not with our children, not in our community and not in our city,” said DiCiccio.
