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Fort Smith, AR – Operation SAFE GATEWAY was a
joint agency focus to validate the addresses provided by registered sex
offenders. SAFE GATEWAY allowed law enforcement to validate information provided
by sex offenders during the registration and periodic re-registration
requirements under Arkansas State Law. Normally, sex offenders’ addresses are
verified only during initial registration and on a case by case basis after
that. Experience tells us that often times, registered sex offenders will
periodically re-register as required, but will use an address where they are not
actually residing anymore.
SAFE GATEWAY lasted two days and began on January 31st, 2012 and targeted 267
registered sex offenders in the Fort Smith and Sebastian County area. Officers
were able to locate and verify 233 of those sex offenders in the two day
operation. Officers were unable to verify compliance with 34 offenders either
because no one was home at the time, or the offender was in non-compliance with
their registration and not living at the residence where they were registered.
Officers will spend the next several days following up on these unverified
offenders and seeking additional charges for individuals who are found to be in
non-compliance with their sex offender registry. Officers anticipate additional
charges with more arrest to come in the next few weeks as
You can find more information about sex offenders in the City of Fort Smith and
Sebastian County by visiting
www.fortsmithpd.org and clicking on the “SEX OFFENDERS” tab or by going to
www.sebastiancountysheriff.com
and clicking on the “SEX OFFENDER DIVISION” tab.
Participating Agencies:
- Arkansas State Police
- Arkansas Department of Community Correction
- Barling Police Department
- Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
- Fort Smith Police Department
- Lavaca Police Department
- Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office
- U. S. Marshals Service
Additional information about the
U.S. Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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