The Michigan sex offender statute requires convicted offenders to live and work at least 1,000 feet -- slightly less than two-tenths of a mile, or roughly three blocks -- from a K-12 school, putting them outside of a so-called "school safety zone." Four sex offenders identified in a Flint Journal article as possibly living too close to a "school safety zone" have moved from their homes following a state police crackdown.
Using information from the March 30 article, police investigated where 32 registered sex offenders were living and whether they violated state law by being within 1,000 feet of a school.
The four men, all Flint residents, were directed to move by state police Sgt. Jeff Bauermeister, who is the sex offender registry coordinator for Genesee County.
Other violators were moved based on about nine residents' tips that came in after the article was published, Bauermeister said.
Affected schools were notified, said Bauermeister, who wouldn't specify where the offenders lived.
A community service officer from the Burton Police Department applauded Bauermeister's efforts.
"I think it's great. Sex offenders running around schools are always a concern to parents and the community," Officer Steven Henry said. "It may have prevented problems. But the greatest thing, it gives people peace of mind."
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