Thomas Foley: “the news coming out of Florida is distressing, the brutal murders and abductions of young girls. Punta Gorda Police…”

“the news coming out of Florida is distressing, the brutal murders and abductions of young girls. Punta Gorda Police Department started a new program yesterday, Adopt- An-Offender, where police officers are placed with sexual offenders in the new program. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Chuck Rinehart commended all the officers of his department for 100 percent participation. After the recent murder, said the chief, of Jessica Lunsford, in Citrus County, the Punta Gorda Police Department decided they were unsatisfied with the way they were handling local sex offenders. The result was this program. He said, ``We will work hand-in-hand with our local probation and parole officers to ensure that offenders and predators are following the lines drawn for them. The bottom line to offenders and predators: Don't cross the line.'' St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara and Under Sheriff Gary Wilson have had a similar program for some time. I commend both of these agencies for their proactive leadership and urge all cities and counties to follow their lead. It is time we get tough. We should not expect people to register. We should be pursuing them. We should be following them. If they break the law, they should be back in jail. ____________________”