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By JACKIE RIPLEY, Times Staff WriterHillsborough joins Hernando as the only area counties to publicly provide names and faces for increased child safety.
TAMPA - Sexual predators with a penchant for public parks should beware, at least in Hillsborough County. Officials on Thursday started posting the names and faces of sexual predators who live within 5 miles of each county park.
They kicked off the effort in suburban Northdale, where they unveiled the type of bulletin board that soon will be displayed at 85 county parks and recreation centers.
A board in the lobby of the Northdale Recreation Center shows photos of nine sexual predators who live within 5 miles, including their names, race and date of offense.
In the Tampa Bay area, only Hernando County is taking similar measures.
"We believe it's a safety factor," said Hillsborough parks spokesman John Brill. "If it's playground equipment or downed tree limbs, it's just another safety factor."
It will take a few months to do this at every park and rec center, since each will have a different roster of faces. The parks department plans to update the information monthly.
"There is nothing more precious than our children," said Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, who's spearheading the effort. "They are defenseless without us."
Roughly 1,400 convicted sex offenders live in Hillsborough County, about 100 of them classified as sexual predators. The "predator" label is applied at the discretion of judges, usually for repeat offenders, those who used violence or who victimized children.
The county is posting only the predators.
"We're supportive of the idea," said Hillsborough sheriff's Maj. Bob Shrader. "It's not vigilante. It's having all the necessary information to protect ourselves."
Florida was in the national spotlight earlier this year when two registered sex offenders were arrested on charges of abducting and killing two girls: Sarah Michelle Lunde, 13, of Ruskin and Jessica Marie Lunsford, 9, of Homosassa.
"It never hurts to have the pictures out there," Northdale resident Marty Katz said Thursday. "The parents come in, take a look. I think it's great."
Larry Spalding, an attorney with the ACLU in Tallahassee, had mixed emotions about the program. He said it's a good thing to target true sexual predators to protect children. But he's concerned the approach could be so broad it affects people who are succeeding at rehabilitating their lives.
"We're branding them to the point where it is virtually impossible for them to survive," Spalding said.
Communities statewide are taking steps to raise public awareness about sexual predators. Pinellas County offers an online mapping database at www.pinellascounty.org/offender that shows where sex offenders live compared to homes, schools, libraries, even school bus stops.
State law already prohibits sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks or day care centers.
Jackie Ripley can be reached at 813 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com