Five Bay Area men arrived at a San Francisco home in late July, thinking they were going to meet kids they’d been soliciting online for sex, authorities said.
Instead, cameras were rolling. Undercover deputies arrested them while drones flew overhead. Chris Hansen, the former host of “To Catch a Predator,” stepped in to confront the men with a documentary crew.
San Francisco deputies are typically seen staffing the city’s jails and courthouse, not at on-the-ground sting operations. Even less often are they seen with television personalities.
Rank-and-file deputies were surprised to learn of the unusual arrangement. Their union said its members were not officially briefed on the operation or consulted in its planning.
Hansen’s presence was not mentioned by Sheriff Paul Miyamoto or District Attorney Brooke Jenkins during a Wednesday news conference announcing the operation and arrests.
His “involvement in this operation may understandably generate scrutiny and questions about the role of media in law enforcement operations,” said Danilo Quintanilla, the union president.
At the same time, Quintanilla said, Hansen’s “long history of bringing national attention to the dangers of online child exploitation” could raise awareness — a positive outcome, in his eyes.
Hansen “expressed interest in observing and participating in one of our operations,” said Tara Moriarty, the sheriff’s spokesperson. It is unclear when Hansen, who could not be reached, contacted the department.
San Francisco deputies have conducted half a dozen undercover stings since San Francisco hosted the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, Moriarty said. The partnership with Hansen arose “as a result of those collaborative efforts.”
Hansen’s programs have garnered both criticism and a cult following. He’s won multiple Emmy awards and will be portrayed by Robert Pattinson in an upcoming A24 biopic. He’s also been criticized by journalists who say his undercover tactics and cooperation with law enforcement is unethical.
Hansen’s most recent filmed encounters with suspected online predators streamed on his network TruBlu for the series “Takedown with Chris Hansen.”
While Hansen was present, the July 29 and 30 operations were “planned, directed, and carried out by law enforcement,” Moriarty said. Their success “is a testament to the dedication of our deputies and our law enforcement partners who share a common goal: protecting children and holding predators accountable.”
“Our members perform difficult work every day that often receives little public attention,” Quintanilla said. “Their work — and the safety of the children these investigations are intended to protect — should remain at the center of this story.”
