Contact Information

  • Governor's Office, 360-902-4111

Governor Gregoire Announces Operation Crackdown: Statewide Sweep to Arrest Wanted Sex Offenders

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2007

Sweep happening in Yakima area and will continue in King County, the Chelan/Douglas and Spokane regions

OLYMPIA � A broad sweep to locate and arrest wanted sex offenders is underway, Governor Chris Gregoire announced today.

Across Washington, local law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, and US Marshalls are tracking down and making arrests on all Department of Corrections secretary warrants and local warrants for sex offenders wanted for violating the conditions of their community supervision.

"As a mother and as governor, protecting our children and communities from sex offenders is a top priority. Parents and community members need to know where sex offenders live so they can assist law enforcement in keeping our communities safe. When sex offenders violate the terms of their community supervision, they will be held accountable," Governor Gregoire said.

Multi-jurisdictional units are deploying across the state to locate and arrest all wanted sex offenders. Operation Crackdown began this morning in the Yakima region and will continue today in King County, later this week in the Chelan/Douglas region and next week in the Spokane region.

Department of Corrections officials in all other regions of the state will contact local Sheriffs this week to plan similar warrant sweeps for sex offenders in the next two months. This is a statewide effort and will be repeated when and where needed.

"The message to sex offenders who violate the terms of community supervision: We will find you and you will be held accountable to the full extent of the law," said Governor Gregoire. "The actions by law enforcement across the state will reassure our citizens that sex offenders do not have a place to hide."

As specialized, multi-jurisdictional units track down these sex offenders, information about the offenders is being shared with patrol officers and deputies in participating agencies so that all of these departments can be on the lookout and assist in locating and arresting these sex offenders.