In a month and a half-long operation dubbed “Summer Heat,” 42 sex offenders who violated registration laws were arrested.
“Operation Summer Heat should send a strong message to all sex offenders that Florida law enforcement is serious about registration,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen.
“We are just beginning our work. If you are a sex offender and you violate registration laws, we are looking for you.”
The operation took into custody 4 sex offenders from Central Florida including Seminole, Orange and Volusia counties. The FDLE’s Enforcement and Investigative Support (EIS) Unit coordinated the operation along with the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies.
The EIS was created in 2014 to assist local and federal agencies to locate sex offenders who have violated registration laws, many of whom cross jurisdictional lines. The offenders who intentionally avoid registration requirements were arrested, according to FDLE.
The arrests were made from warrants and the result of investigations by local sheriffs or police departments.