Council to review how police track sex offenders

The Newport Beach City Council will review a report in August on sex offenders living in the city and how the police department keeps track of them.

Councilwoman Leslie Daigle asked for the report after fielding questions from residents wondering about city procedures for sex offenders.

The state Megan’s Law database shows eight convicted sex offenders who live in Newport Beach and are required to register under federal law, and Daigle said the city police department knows of about 23 other sex offenders who live in town but may not be required to publicly disclose their addresses.

“I think its important that our residents know that we have a system in place to register sex offenders and the city also is keeping close tabs on their whereabouts,” Daigle said, adding that she requested the report because of general concerns, not because of a specific incident.

The city police department has an employee who specifically handles juvenile sex crimes who interviews sex offenders living in Newport Beach and takes photos of them and their vehicles, Daigle said. The council will hear the report at its Aug. 14 meeting.

— Alicia Robinson