Effingham County Sheriff’s Office to participate in ‘Operation Watchful Eye’

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said they will participate in the annual statewide residence and compliance check of registered sex offenders.

The operation will take place October 26 through November 2, according to police. Authorities said this will be their eleventh year participating in this operation.

Police will conduct residence verifications, compliance checks and make arrests of non-compliant registered sex offenders to track the movements of offenders and enforce registration requirements.

Last year, ECSO made two arrests and issued two warrants during Operation Watchful Eye.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Effingham Co. Sheriff’s Office carries out ‘Operation Watchful Eye’

Effingham County deputies launch Operation Watchful Eye ahead of Halloween

Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies started checking addresses of registered sex offenders before sunrise Monday, Oct. 26 as part of Operation Watchful Eye, a statewide law enforcement effort aimed at keeping sex offenders off the streets during Halloween week.

This is the 11th year Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies have participated in the operation. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office said the response has been positive.

“It also gives the parents and the kids a peace of mind that they don’t really have to worry about anything happening while they’re out trick-or-treating,” said Brian Bailey, Effingham County PIO.

How deputies carry out the operation

Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies use Operation Watchful Eye to verify addresses, check compliance and arrest convicted sex offenders who are not following registration rules.

Deputies said the operation is non-invasive and they are not going out looking to make arrests.

This year, deputies assigned to various shifts started saturating all parts of the county at 5:30 a.m. Monday.

“This early in the morning, we can catch a lot of them at home before they leave for work... I will be going out all throughout the week getting the ones that we don’t get this morning,” said Deputy Sheriff Cathy Dillard, Sex Offenders Division.

Fewer addresses on this year’s list

Dillard said the goal this year is to check 114 addresses, down from 146 last year.

She said the Georgia Sheriff’s Association makes no mention of doing Operation Watchful Eye specifically for Halloween, but some find the timing of the operation fitting.

“With us doing this all week they’ll know we’ve made sure that everybody is where they’re supposed to be and sex offenders on probation are required to report to this office during trick or treat hours,” Dillard said.

Dillard said deputies will be out all week following up on sex offenders they missed Monday morning.