Officials said the operation sparked 132 investigations, which led to 72 arrests of people using the internet to exploit children.
PHOENIX — Dozens of alleged sex offenders have been arrested after a month-long investigation involving law enforcement agencies across Arizona.
The arrests are part of the Operation Safe Online Summer (SOS). The results of the operation were announced Wednesday at a news conference.
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“We want the community to know this is happening constantly, that the work being done throughout the state of Arizona it’s a combined effort along all different aspects,” said Sgt. Brian Bower, with Phoenix police.
The operation began in April 2025 and continued throughout the month.
Officials said SOS sparked 132 investigations, which led to 72 arrests of people using the internet to exploit children. Most of the people arrested were from Arizona, but some were from surrounding states.
Officials said 12 registered sex offenders were among those arrested.
Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro of the Phoenix police said that getting these individuals off the street is crucial for the safety of children.
“These are the people that are preying on young children that are vulnerable online, and so being able to take them offline, so to speak, is a true effort,” said DeCastro
DeCastro said the operation was “invaluable” in achieving its mission, but that mission is ongoing.
“Operation SOS was a massive success, one of many that happens through the year, through many investigative techniques,” said DeCastro.
Through the investigations, 25 victims of ongoing exploitation were identified, officials said.
Investigators were able to identify 14 child victims who were not previously known to them.
He said it is one that law enforcement will continue to pursue operations like this one.
“Our children deserve to grow up in a safe and supportive physical and online environment, free from exploitation and harm,” said DeCastro.
The operation also included educating the community at 11 events, which reached around 350 parents and students.
That was a point officials continued to stress at the news conference.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the targeting of children online is an ongoing issue.
“You know every day at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, we see new cases of predators targeting and exploiting children online,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell urged parents to take a few minutes to have a conversation with their children, and she said it’s never too soon.
“You can stay vigilant by deciding not to wait, because these talks need to start now, they need to start a young age before your child has regular access to the phone and internet, so when the time comes, you’re ready and your child is ready to make better and safer choices,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell said parents should teach children about the differences between friends in real life and strangers that they meet online.
Parents need to discuss what to do if someone approaches a child to ask for photos or videos.
Additionally, Mitchell warned parents to teach children about the risks of sexting and the serious consequences it can have even years down the road.
Parents must know what their children are doing online and who they could be doing it with, according to Mitchell. That includes knowing which games and apps kids are using and how they work.
“I know this is a frightening thing to say for people, but you need to learn how these app work, familiarize yourself with vault apps, which are secret apps that can be used to hide messages, photos and videos behind a password and be aware that these kinds of apps can be disguised as something seemingly harmless, like a calculator,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell urged the importance of parents identifying to children a “trusted adult” the children can turn to if they have been victimized. She said that person doesn’t necessarily have to be the parent, as long as the person is someone they know they can go to for help.
“A trusted adult is someone who will stay calm when a child comes to them because an emotional reaction, whether anger or sadness or something else, may cause the child to shut down and not share further information,” said Mitchell. “It’s someone who will listen without judgment and then help the child by reporting it to the police.”
Mitchell also wanted to remind parents about the online resource launched by MCAO to help deal with cyber exploitation.
MORE INFORMATION: MCAO launches tool to help stop online predators
The tool helps parents navigate preventing and reporting child exploitation. It also helps parents identify signs that a predator may be targeting their child.
Matt Schaeffer, the assistant special agent in charge of the criminal branch of the FBI in Phoenix, also attended the news conference.
Schaeffer warned predators that they would not get away with targeting children for exploitation.
If you’re out there thinking about exploiting children, if you’re exploiting children, we will find you, it’s just a matter of time,” said Schaeffer.
According to Schaeffer, there are 90 task forces nationwide dedicated to catching predators who target children for exploitation.
“We use our task forces as force multipliers, bringing multiple agencies together, bringing all of our collective resources together to accomplish the mission,” said Schaeffer.
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Agencies involved in Operation Safe Online Summer included:
- Phoenix PD
- Gilbert PD
- Goodyear PD
- Scottsdale PD
- Surprise
- Sahuarita PD
- Tucson PD
- Tempe PD
- Avondale PD
- Flagstaff PD
- Glendale PD
- Peoria PD
- Chandler PD
- Prescott Valley PD
- Arizona Department of Public Safety
- Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
- Pima County Sheriff’s Office
- Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
- Mohave County Sheriff’s Office
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
- FBI Phoenix, Arizona Attorney General’s Office
- Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
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