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As they did in June, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and numerous federal and local law enforcement officials conducted the second of many countywide sex offender compliance sweeps on Friday.
Sgt. Ronda Montgomery, a sergeant with the Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit in the sheriff’s department, said the sweep, called Operation LASER, was not a response to any specific investigation or complaint.
“We had this planned,” Montgomery said, adding that the agency is building on its zero-tolerance policy.
Unlike last June when offenders living in Kansas City, Independence and Grandview were contacted and checked, offenders living in cities including Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Oak Grove, Grain Valley, Buckner and Levasy were checked on Friday.
“Almost every jurisdiction in Eastern Jackson County will be swept on Friday, specifically the unincorporated areas of the county,” Montgomery said.
“That’s the only way it’s different from last year’s sweep.”
Joining the sheriff’s department Friday in Lee’s Summit were 19 federal and local law enforcement officials. Funded by a grant from the United States Marshals Office, the sweep was intended to verify the registration information for sex offenders reportedly living within EJC.
Operation LASER, or Local Agencies Supervise and Enforce Registrations, is meant to convey the zero-tolerance policy police want to communicate to offenders.
Montgomery said the unit increased its arrests of offenders in non-compliance by approximately 1,278 percent between February and October 2010.
“In years past there really hadn’t been zero-tolerance,” she said.
As an example, Montgomery said not enough attention was paid to the number of vehicles an offender owned.
“With the unit now, it’s about covering all bases and making sure (offenders) are in compliance,” she said.
Making contact with the offender, officers, deputies and agents checked addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle registrations; they checked their living environment, inside and out, to see if they’re complying with the terms of their probation, which could include the presence of children, computer(s), drugs and weapons.
On Friday, 160 residence checks were performed and the sheriff’s office reported 50 non-compliant offenders and four computer previews.
In June, police contacted 188 offenders. Warrant arrests were issued for 37 offenders and two offenders committed weapons violations.
The sheriff’s department is asking that should anyone have any information or questions relating to a sex offender being in non-compliance to contact the Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit at 816-881-3849.
As they did in June, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and numerous federal and local law enforcement officials conducted the second of many countywide sex offender compliance sweeps on Friday.
Sgt. Ronda Montgomery, a sergeant with the Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit in the sheriff’s department, said the sweep, called Operation LASER, was not a response to any specific investigation or complaint.
“We had this planned,” Montgomery said, adding that the agency is building on its zero-tolerance policy.
Unlike last June when offenders living in Kansas City, Independence and Grandview were contacted and checked, offenders living in cities including Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Oak Grove, Grain Valley, Buckner and Levasy were checked on Friday.
“Almost every jurisdiction in Eastern Jackson County will be swept on Friday, specifically the unincorporated areas of the county,” Montgomery said.
“That’s the only way it’s different from last year’s sweep.”
Joining the sheriff’s department Friday in Lee’s Summit were 19 federal and local law enforcement officials. Funded by a grant from the United States Marshals Office, the sweep was intended to verify the registration information for sex offenders reportedly living within EJC.
Operation LASER, or Local Agencies Supervise and Enforce Registrations, is meant to convey the zero-tolerance policy police want to communicate to offenders.
Montgomery said the unit increased its arrests of offenders in non-compliance by approximately 1,278 percent between February and October 2010.
“In years past there really hadn’t been zero-tolerance,” she said.
As an example, Montgomery said not enough attention was paid to the number of vehicles an offender owned.
“With the unit now, it’s about covering all bases and making sure (offenders) are in compliance,” she said.
Making contact with the offender, officers, deputies and agents checked addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle registrations; they checked their living environment, inside and out, to see if they’re complying with the terms of their probation, which could include the presence of children, computer(s), drugs and weapons.
On Friday, 160 residence checks were performed and the sheriff’s office reported 50 non-compliant offenders and four computer previews.
In June, police contacted 188 offenders. Warrant arrests were issued for 37 offenders and two offenders committed weapons violations.
The sheriff’s department is asking that should anyone have any information or questions relating to a sex offender being in non-compliance to contact the Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit at 816-881-3849.
