Watchdogs On the Lookout For Sexual Predators

By Charles Hack
10/05/2006

Any concerned parent who plugs their zip code into a sex-offender watchdog website will see a map that makes Brooklyn look like it is sick with measles. That’s because the map is scattered with hundreds of multicolored dots. Each spot marks the home or place of work of yet another sexual predator. Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector William Aubry of the 68th Precinct gave out the address, www.familywatchdog.us, at the Community Education Council 20’s September meeting at I.S. 259 McKinley at 7301 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy. The site contains a database of registered sexual offenders, including those convicted of rape and sexual battery. Parents can provide their email and zip code to receive notifications of any sex offenders moving into the neighborhood.But Aubry said that his precinct has been safer for school kids, after cops took a suspected pedophile off the streets for allegedly trying to abduct children in the Borough Park area. The police put out a dragnet after multiple reports of attempted abductions. The increased surveillance led to the arrest of other dubious characters, “because on a daily, weekly and monthly basis there are people who approach kids,” Aubrey said. The prime suspect was arrested near Fort Hamilton High School after approaching girls attending summer school, the police said. A potential victim provided the police with a good description of the suspect’s van, Aubry said. “We took it seriously and we followed up on it,” said Aubry. No attempted abductions have been reported since the fall semester started three weeks ago, Aubry said.

“We believe that the person responsible has now been arrested,” Aubry said. Because of the state’s bureaucracy, the Web site may flag sex offenders convicted out of state — who move into the precinct — even before the police know about it, Aubry said. “The Internet site makes it a lot easier,” Aubry said. The commanding officer urged the public to call 911 as soon as possible after any incident. Parents can also visit the state Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Web site at www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us, which provides an official database of registered sex offenders. In other business, the Community Education Council voted on a resolution to support the United Federation of Teachers’ call to the city’s education chancellor to reduce class sizes and make schools safer. “Thirty five kids — that’s too many kids in a class,” said Ellen Driesen, District 20 United Federation of Teachers representative. “But in the suburbs where classrooms have 20 kids, the kids do very, very well.” Driesen also said that schools need to be made safer. “Schools are a sanctuary,” said Driesen. “It is not permissible to have a child disrupt the class. It is dangerous. It is not the place for it.” A copy of the resolution will now be sent to Joel Klein, chancellor of the city Department of Education. Those interested in how the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case is progressing after 13 years, heard that it will finally reach the highest court in the state. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard by the New York State Court of Appeals on Oct. 10. at 2 p.m. in Albany, announced April Humphrey, New York City coordinator, for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. The campaign organizers will be chartering buses to take protestors to a rally supporting New York City teachers before the hearing. “Overcrowding is one of the most serious issues facing schools system-wide,” “There are too many kids in the class. There are too many kids in all of the schools.” The law suit was filed in 1993 by public school parents, arguing that there were large disparities between resources allocated to city and suburban schools. Humphrey said that since then, a full half of the kids in New York City failed to graduate after four years at high school. “The same conditions that were there 13 years ago when the lawsuit was filed still exist in our schools today,” said Humphrey. “The system has failed them.” The lower court awarded $5.6 billion in operating budget and $9.2 billion in capital funding, Humphrey said. The Court of Appeals is expected to decide how much money is appropriate to compensate the city, Humphrey said. For more information about the CFE and the rally call Jessica Garcia at (212) 867-8455. Chancellor Joe Klein is scheduled to appear at P.S. 200, at 1940 Benson Ave. on Oct. 17 at the next CEC 20 meeting. Call (718) 759-3921 for more information.
©Courier-Life Publications 2006