Police Scale Back Plan to Map Sex Offenders

Police on Tuesday abandoned a plan to distribute maps at schools indicating the areas where registered sex offenders live. Instead, the department said the maps will be available at department headquarters beginning Monday. Following the lead of police in Fremont, Calif., South Gate police stirred up a minor controversy by announcing that they, too, were printing up maps that designated the general location of registered sexual offenders who live within a mile of any city elementary school.

The maps are meant to encourage parents to consult the Megan’s law computer database and identify registered sex offenders in their neighborhoods. They do not give specific addresses or include names.

Although police said that local school administrators were keen on the idea, Los Angeles Unified School District administrators, whose boundaries include South Gate, were not. An assistant superintendent of school operations said administrators and school police would have to meet with South Gate police to discuss the plan, and some district officials worried that the fliers would cause more distress among parents than peace of mind.

Police said the maps will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday. The department has also arranged for residents to consult the Megan’s law CD-ROM at the sheriff’s Century station in Lynwood