Image Credit: @MEM_PoliceDept.
Article by Paula Gomes, Tennessee Conservative News –
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) worked alongside the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the U.S. Marshals Service ahead of Halloween to check that registered sex offenders in the area were in compliance with state law.
The initiative, dubbed Operation Bluff City Shield, led to dozens of arrests after MPD officers checked on 770 offenders over the course of a week. There are over 800 registered sex offenders in the Memphis area.
As part of the operation, officers verified addresses of offenders as well as employment and registration details as they went knocking on hundreds of doors before the city’s children could on Saturday night.
Sex offenders on the registry are forbidden from handing out Halloween candy, leaving porch lights on, dressing up in costumes, or even displaying carved pumpkins on their property, and must not attend certain youth-related events in connection with the holiday.
MPD has conducted similar operations on a yearly basis for the last ten years as part of an ongoing effort to keep children safe.
Every individual on the sex offender registry has a specific set of rules that govern what they are allowed to do or where they may go.
At one arrest at a home on Echles Street, officers took Tessa Gavin into custody for noncompliance due to several violations.
According to MPD, Gavins had an unreported cell phone, email accounts and social media accounts that were not on file, and a stolen handgun. Even if the handgun had not been stolen, as a convicted felon, Gavin is not allowed to be in possession of any firearm.
In all, MPD ended up making around 40 arrests, double what last year’s operation yielded.
Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies also checked in with more than 150 sex offenders within the county in their own yearly compliance operation.
No arrests were made by deputies this year.
TBI maintains a list of sex offenders that Tennesseans may search to see who lives in your area.
Anyone who sees a registered sex offender participating in Halloween activities should make a report to law enforcement.
Sources:
Memphis Police Department.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx.