Sheriff's Department starts watch program

 A simple upgrade in technology will be keeping Sumner County citizens safe as the Sheriff’s Department launches OffenderWatch.
    A citizen-friendly, easy to use Sumner County offender registry will enable residents in the county to search for registered offenders near their homes, workplaces, schools and daycares.
    This information is being provided to the citizens in a form they can easily use any time day or night, via the nation’s leading offender registration and notification solution, OffenderWatch.
    The system differs from many, including the state offender search, KASPER (Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository).
    “Basically the KASPER works with anyone who is encarcerated with the Department of Corrections. OffenderWatch primarily focuses on registered sex offenders, so you can keep track of offenders who are new to your area, be alerted if there is any movement into your neighborhood,” said Sumner County Sheriff Gerald Gilkey. “This is just a modern version of what is already out there,”
    Citizens may enter any address and see a map and listing of offenders within a radius of as little as a quarter of a mile or up to two miles of that address.
    Residents can even register their address to receive updates via e-mail should an offender register an address within the user-defined radius. The service is confidential and free.
    Sumner County Sheriff Gerald Gilkey says the purpose of the program is to lessen the anxiety of citizens by proactively alerting them should an offender or predator move near them, and to enhance the security and safety of local residents.
    “This is a great tool to for the community to use, including school districts and whoever out there has an interest or concern about sex offenders moving to their neighborhood,” said Gilkey.
    The Sumner County Sheriff’s Department website will be updated continually with new information and programs in an attempt to keep residents informed of what’s going on and how to keep themselves safe.
    Go to www.sumnercountysheriff.net to use OffenderWatch or to get more information on the program.