Sheriff offers sex offender email alerts

VW County Sheriff’s Office information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach has announced that, during this year’s Fair, the Sheriff’s Office will assist citizens with registering to receive an automatic email alert when a registered sex offender moves into an area near their home.

Sheriff Riggenbach said that county residents attending the fair Saturday, August 30, and Monday, September 1, can stop at the Sheriff’s Operations Trailer on the fairgrounds and a deputy will assist them in registering to receive the automatic email alert. Hours both days are noon to 6 p.m.

Sheriff Riggenbach stated the Operations Trailer is located near the main gate of the Fairgrounds, across from the Fair Administration building.  Citizens wanting to register can expect the process of registering for the automatic email alert to take no more than 2 or 3 minutes.  Information about signing up to receive automatic email alerts on registered sex offenders will be available all week during the fair at the Sheriff’s Operations Trailer.  Sheriff Riggenbach encourages citizens to stop by the Operations Trailer at any time to pick up this information.  This information will help citizens be more informed about registered sex offenders in Van Wert County.

Sheriff Riggenbach said his office provides the Offender Watch Program, a tool that local residents can use to protect their children and stay informed about offenders in their area.  In addition to the automatic email alert feature, The Offender Watch Program also provides county residents with real-time maps of registered offenders in their area, tips for parents to talk with their children, as well as safety advice for children.

The public can access the Offender Watch Program by visiting the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office website (www.vanwertcountysheriff.com) and clicking on the “Sex Offender” link at the top of the page. Residents will then click on the “Click Here To” link to access the Offender Watch Program.

Sheriff Riggenbach said he is committed to going beyond the minimum to assure the safety of families in Van Wert County.