Monroe is a city of approximately 48,000 residents, located in Ouachita Parish in northern Louisiana. Prostitution and child sex trafficking are well-documented problems in the city and surrounding areas, generating complaints to police and some cases involving drug offenses and violence among people in prostitution transactions.  In an effort to reduce prostitution activity and related crime in the area, the Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office have conducted street-level reverse stings since at least 2003.   The city lies directly across the Ouachita River from its “twin” city, West Monroe, and Monroe officers have at times coordinated efforts with the West Monroe Police Department.  The names, ages, and photos of arrested sex buyers are sometimes included in news releases.