Scott County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies conduct sex offender registration compliance operation

 SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) – Multiple law enforcement agencies partnered with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department for Operation MACE, (Multi-Agency Compliance Enforcement) an effort to verify registered sex offenders are complying with registration requirements.

The operation included assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service, Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Miner Police Department and was led by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department.

Scott County Detective Dadrian Jones said the operation began earlier this week, with teams conducting in-person checks to verify information listed in sex offender registration records.

Investigators reviewed each registered offender’s file and divided into six teams to check addresses, vehicles, social media accounts and other information offenders are required to report.

“We have zero tolerance for this” says Jones “So there is no, negotiation when it comes to registration in this county, you either register right or you face the consequences and that’s the message that we want to send that we are serious about this.”

Jones said the multiagency effort provided additional resources to check records and verify compliance throughout the county.

 “With all the agencies, it’s just, again, there’s more resources for us to hit each like I said, we have 149 and having those other agencies available for resources. Some of like the US marshals, ICE, and then the local, resources that we have, it was just much needed for all of us to be and to work together and that’s the whole thing about MACE all these other agencies, we just need to work together and, I think that was what we did today” says Jones. 

As of Tuesday, one arrest had been made, and probable cause information for multiple additional cases had been forwarded to the Scott County prosecuting attorney’s office.

Detective Jones said the operation was intended to enforce registration requirements and reinforce public safety. The accurate registration information is especially important ahead of Halloween, when families are expected to be out trick-or-treating.

The operation brought together agencies to help verify that registered sex offenders are following the law and that the information they provide to authorities is accurate.

Anyone with information that could be important to MACE is encouraged to contact the Scott County tip line scottcountymo.com/crime-tips.php