LITTLE ROCK, AR – Little Rock Police and the U.S. Marshals spent Friday checking in on sex offenders to make sure they’re living at the addresses they reported to authorities. Two offenders were arrested on warrants for failing to comply with registration requirements.
Little Rock police officers Tabitha McCrillis and John Trent spent Friday knocking on doors where sex offenders reported to police they were staying.
The detectives are members of the squad that investigates crimes against children. On Friday they were one of roughly half a dozen teams helping verify sex offender addresses, which offenders are required to report by law.
“If they’re not there – you make contact with a neighbor,” Sgt. Bryan Brown instructed the group during an early-morning meeting. ” If they haven’t lived there in four months, then you can use the neighbors testimony as a witness statement for the case file.”
The officers were all trying to track down level 3 and level 4 sex offenders, which are the most dangerous categories, living inside Little Rock city limits.
“We have to keep our thumb on them and know what they’re doing,” Detective Trent said.
In some cases, knocks go unanswered. Other times McCrillis and Trent were unsure if the voice behind the door was paired behind the door.
“We watch out for one another,” Trent said. “She has my back and I have hers.”
“I won’t say that some of the individuals don’t bother me, but it’s more based on interactions I’ve had or the crimes they were convicted of,” McCrillis said. “Overall, they tend to be really respectful.”
The round up is not an attempt to embarrass or put sex offenders following the rules on display.
“We have some that realize they messed up they’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing,” Trent said. “We want them to succeed, but if they’re not, this can be the way we can get them back on the right track.”
And both detectives believe these sweeps keep the city safer.
“Absolutely. You have over 500 offenders – it’s something that needs to be done,” McCrillis said.
According to the unit, Operation MayDay resulted in 106 address verification checks. Of those, 73 offender addresses were verified as compliant. Another 33 will have to have additional verification measures taken, because the offenders weren’t physically at the address at the time officers dropped in.
If an offender was not home, officers left fliers at their door, notifying them they are required to check in by phone within 24 hours. A failure to comply with registration requirements can land offenders back behind bars, and it may even result in new felony failure to register charges.
Little Rock police officers Tabitha McCrillis and John Trent spent Friday knocking on doors where sex offenders reported to police they were staying.
The detectives are members of the squad that investigates crimes against children. On Friday they were one of roughly half a dozen teams helping verify sex offender addresses, which offenders are required to report by law.
“If they’re not there – you make contact with a neighbor,” Sgt. Bryan Brown instructed the group during an early-morning meeting. ” If they haven’t lived there in four months, then you can use the neighbors testimony as a witness statement for the case file.”
The officers were all trying to track down level 3 and level 4 sex offenders, which are the most dangerous categories, living inside Little Rock city limits.
“We have to keep our thumb on them and know what they’re doing,” Detective Trent said.
In some cases, knocks go unanswered. Other times McCrillis and Trent were unsure if the voice behind the door was paired behind the door.
“We watch out for one another,” Trent said. “She has my back and I have hers.”
“I won’t say that some of the individuals don’t bother me, but it’s more based on interactions I’ve had or the crimes they were convicted of,” McCrillis said. “Overall, they tend to be really respectful.”
The round up is not an attempt to embarrass or put sex offenders following the rules on display.
“We have some that realize they messed up they’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing,” Trent said. “We want them to succeed, but if they’re not, this can be the way we can get them back on the right track.”
And both detectives believe these sweeps keep the city safer.
“Absolutely. You have over 500 offenders – it’s something that needs to be done,” McCrillis said.
According to the unit, Operation MayDay resulted in 106 address verification checks. Of those, 73 offender addresses were verified as compliant. Another 33 will have to have additional verification measures taken, because the offenders weren’t physically at the address at the time officers dropped in.
If an offender was not home, officers left fliers at their door, notifying them they are required to check in by phone within 24 hours. A failure to comply with registration requirements can land offenders back behind bars, and it may even result in new felony failure to register charges.
