BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MOUNT HEALTHY -- This city has become the second community in Hamilton County to enact a sex-offender notification ordinance. The ordinance passed unanimously at Tuesday's city council meeting.
The ordinance will take effect in 30 days.
The law requires the city police department to notify neighbors, and include notice in its public crime report, if a sexual predator moves into the community.
"What we're hoping to do is see a domino effect throughout other communities in Hamilton County," said Councilman Don Crank, who had introduced the ordinance. "We want it to be a deterrent. It's starting to catch on."
Loveland has a similar law, and the Mount Healthy ordinance was based on the language of that law. Loveland Councilman Brad Greenberg has said one of the reasons for the law was to dissuade such offenders from even moving into the community.
Mr. Crank said other communities are looking into adopting a similar ordinance.
"I think it's a good ordinance," said Councilman Darryl Johnson, chairman of council's Safety Committee. "We haven't had this problem in our city. But if an individual should move in, our neighbors will be notified. City council is very adamant about that. It's just notification; it's not any type of vigilante action. We're only dealing with the safety of our children, which is the future of our city.
"I have two children myself. Would I watch them more closely? Yes. That's no different than any other parent."
Mount Healthy Police Chief Al Schaefer has said the department supports the ordinance. The law requires the police department to notify neighbors within a three-block area of the offender's residence.
Under state law, the county sheriff's office notifies the police department and next-door neighbors.
