Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters pen letter to the editor criticizing NYT Magazine coverage of child abuse law enforcement

The letter was written in reaction to Michael Winerip’s piece about Operation Net Nanny, an online sting operation to catch child predators that snared hundreds of men and appeared in the New York Times Magazine on Sept. 13, 2020.

New York Times Magazine

Letter to the Editor

Sept. 13, 2020

Re: Crime Fiction

Michael Winerip wrote about Operation Net Nanny, an online sting operation to catch chil predators that snared hundreds of men.

We write to strongly object to the premise (and title) of Michael Winerip’s “Crime Fiction” in the August 30, 2020, edition of the New York Times Magazine. Mr. Winerip argues that sting operations that catch those intent on raping young teenagers are somehow questionable because no actual teenagers are used as bait. We have decades of experience in law enforcement and have also worked with the victims of child sexual abuse – as such we know that the suffering of such victims is very real and in no way “fiction.” Further, an attempted crime is indeed a crime and someone willing to meet a 13-year old for sex will likely do so again, perhaps the next time with a real child. Indeed the recidivism rate for this type of crime is quite high. It is a frightening and unacceptable proposition that we should wait until an actual 13-year old is victimized before law enforcement can become involved.
Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters