Operation SOAP: Local Fathers Taking a Stand Against Child Predators

We the People Christian County recently welcomed a group of four young men from our community who are making a significant impact in the fight against child exploitation. They represent Operation SOAP—an organization founded in October 2024 by Jared, a concerned father who, along with other dads, felt called to take action to protect children in our region.

Their mission is simple and bold: to catch child predators and hand over evidence to law enforcement.

🔍 How They Operate

Operation SOAP creates decoy accounts on Facebook and dating apps to expose predators. When individuals initiate contact with these fake profiles and attempt to arrange meetings, SOAP gathers screenshots, photos, and chat logs as evidence. These are then submitted to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Importantly, Operation SOAP does not initiate or request meetings to avoid violating entrapment laws. They strictly respond to unsolicited, predatory advances.

📍 Results So Far

• Since October 2024, SOAP has successfully exposed 16 predators.
• They have traveled—at their own expense—as far as Miami, Oklahoma, where one arrest occurred.
• In Polk County (Bolivar), four arrests have been made thanks to their work.
• In Green County, nine cases have been identified, but Prosecutor Dan Patterson has reportedly declined to pursue charges.
• In Christian County, there have been no known contacts from predators to the alias accounts created by SOAP.
• In Branson and Springfield, local police departments have expressed disinterest in SOAP’s tips, with some officers calling their efforts a “waste of resources.”
• Conversely, the Bolivar Police Department has been receptive and cooperative.

⚖️ Legal and Law Enforcement Challenges

SOAP reports that some law enforcement agencies, including State Highway Patrol, have forwarded digital evidence to Jefferson City, but in at least one case, the perpetrator has still not been prosecuted.

Additionally, one of SOAP’s investigations helped expose a multi-million-dollar Missouri sex trafficking operation, leading to a raid and the seizure of electronics. However, in some jurisdictions, Operation SOAP continues to face pushback or silence from officials who are unwilling to engage with their reports or findings.

🙌 How You Can Support

To follow and support their mission, visit Operation SOAP Missouri on Facebook (search: Operation SOAP Missouri). By raising awareness, sharing their work, and applying pressure for accountability, communities can help ensure that predator exposure doesn’t fall through the cracks.