By Althea Paul
Tampa, FL (WTSP/CNN) - Police in Tampa, Florida are cracking down on prostitution ahead of next week's Republican National Convention.
Officers have already arrested 16 women at several strip clubs around the city.
Eric "Ice" Terrell, Operations Manager for Skin Strip Club, says he was expecting Tampa police to show up, he just didn't know when.
Then he found out four of his dancers were arrested Friday for offering prostitution.
"They've never been arrested before. As far as I'm concerned, they're four of my better girls. And I was very surprised. Very surprised," said Terrell.
He says though the girls simply answered a question from undercover officers.
"It was more of just the questions that they were asking them. And they were very persistent in the questions, until they got what they wanted," said Terrell.
The two day operation called "Keep it Clean" targeted a total of 14 strip clubs.
"What we begin to do is we monitor these locations just to make sure. We have an obligation just to make sure that we don't have juveniles that are involved in human trafficking issues or that we have a lot of prostitutes coming to the area to take advantage of the large crowds that are going to be here," said Asst. Chief John Newman.
Police arrested 16 women at various strip clubs, including four arrests at Alibi Lounge, and three each at Scarlett's and Play Pen, all for offering prostitution.
The women ranged in age from 19 to 61-years-old.
Tampa authorities are hoping this sends a message.
"That we have a standard. We have laws in place that address these type of crimes and we're going to enforce them," said Newman.
For Terrell though, he says there's a standard in his club as well, and it doesn't include prostitution or anything else illegal.
"That does not happen. We do not allow it. They do not leave the premises with any customers," said Terrell.
The Republican National Convention starts next Monday and runs through Thursday.
Tampa police say they will continue to target prostitution, even during the convention.
WTSP/CNN