By Leah Thorsen
Copyright 2006 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
GRANITE CITY * Police in Granite City plan to hire a detective who will be devoted to checking on registered sex offenders and investigating sex-related crimes. The move is the latest in the city’s crackdown on sex offenders in response to the number who live in the city, said Mayor Ed Hagnauer.
“I was totally surprised at the numbers we had,” he said.
A statewide database lists 89 registered sex offenders in Granite City, which has a population of about 31,500. By comparison, Belleville, with about 42,500 people, has 88.
In Granite City, the effort to keep a closer eye on sex offenders began taking shape in December, when the City Council passed an ordinance banning sex offenders convicted of most crimes against children from living within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and public pools.
State law requires a distance of 500 feet.
Granite City is believed to be the only Metro East city to expand the state-required boundaries.
“We don’t want parents to have to constantly worry,” Hagnauer said, referring to the goal of the ordinance.
Missouri requires that some sex offenders, including those convicted of statutory or forcible rape and child molestation, cannot live within 1,000 feet of schools or child-care centers.
Since Granite City’s ordinance took effect, roughly seven sex offenders have been denied leases in restricted areas, said police Maj. Jeff Connor.
Landlords who rent to sex offenders in these areas could be fined between $25 and $500, but no one has been fined for violating the law, Connor said.
Officials plan to tweak the ordinance so juvenile sex offenders would be allowed to live with their parents if the parents live within the restricted areas.
Police also plan to keep teaching landlords about the ordinance. That will be one of the duties of the new detective, who is expected to be on board by the end of July, Connor said.
Several other Metro East police departments, including Belleville, have taken steps to keep tabs on registered sex offenders.
For the past three years, Detective Beth Binnion has checked on sex offenders living in Belleville to ensure they follow the law.
Police Chief Dave Ruebhausen said the public is better served when police know where sex offenders live, and he said he plans to continue devoting an officer to this task.
Said Ruebhausen: “I think it’s very effective.”
lthorsen@post-dispatch.com e 618-659-3640