Nov 11, 2006 8:52 pm US/Central
Murphy Chief Defends Sex Sting Operations
(CBS 11 News)
Despite criticism from some homeowners in Murphy, the police chief said he will continue to carry out sting operations in the future.
After a controversial sex sting operation this week that resulted in the suicide of a Rockwall County assistant district attorney and the arrest of more than 20 people, the chief defended his actions.
About 200 people attended the first meeting since Sunday's undercover bust. Some residents were angry the operation was staged in their neighborhood.
Chief Bill Myrick partnered with the private group Perverted Justice and the network television show "Dateline."
The police department targeted sexual predators who contacted children over the Internet.
The sting lured men seeking sex with children to a house in Murphy, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas.
A Murphy police office, who lives in Mesquite, arrested one of his neighbors in the sting.
Officials said as many as 90 face future arrest.
Louis "Bill" Conradt Jr., a former Kaufman County District Attorney, killed himself as police tried to serve an arrest warrant for soliciting sex with a minor, authorities said.
Following Conradt's death, Murphy Mayor Bret Bishop said that he hopes Murphy won't be used again as a trap for child predators.
"We're going to do whatever we need to do to make sure this doesn't continue," he said. "I think it's a noble cause, but our police department is hired to serve and protect our citizens, and not to expose them to outside threats."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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