"Too many kids around here:" After concern from neighbors, sex offender will NOT be placed near school
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Concern and outrage from neighbors has led the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to reverse course as it relates to the placement of a registered sex offender. Luis Martinez was set to be placed near 7th and Lapham -- very close to Allen-Field Elementary School, and neighbors weren't happy with that plan.
Luis Martinez
At a public meeting Wednesday evening, April 1st, DOC officials announced Martinez WILL NOT be placed near the school. Instead, he will be homeless -- placed on GPS monitoring and required to keep in regular contact with his DOC agent.
Earlier Wednesday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett called on the DOC to reconsider its placement of Martinez, as neighbors also made pleas.
"There`s a daycare literally right up the block here at the other end of Greenfield right there. There`s too many kids around here for a sex offender to move in," Jamie Berta-Gilane said.
"I don`t believe Governor Walker wants to have sexual offenders living across the street from schools, but the state Department of Corrections is allowing that to happen in Milwaukee today. That has to stop," Mayor Barrett said.
The city of Milwaukee has a sex offender ordinance that restricts sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, daycare center, park or other place children are known to congregate. But there's a loophole that allows sex offenders to live in those areas if they're moving in with an allowable family member who has lived there for at least two years.
"His brother lives in this location and has lived there for two years. I understand that exception is there, but I believe that the state Department of Corrections has discretion to do what`s in the best interest of, in the public`s best interest," Mayor Barrett said.
The Gilanes pointed out multiple daycare centers near Allen-Field Elementary School and they say kids are always out in the area.
"That`s just enticement for a sex offender. Why would you do that? Why would you put them right back in the heart of hunting ground?" Berta-Gilane said.
The DOC says community sentiment is part of the reason they've decided not to place Martinez with his brother near 7th and Lapham.
"We recognize the community sentiment. We will do our best to search for alternative residences for Mr. Martinez that are not in violation of the ordinance, but if we are unsuccessful in those efforts we will continue to monitor him under the rules of what we do with respect to homeless sex offenders," Niel Thoreson with the DOC said.
Martinez will be allowed to visit relatives at the home, but the windows must be darkened, and he is not allowed at the home when children are present in the area.