Syracuse residents are getting a clearer look at who lives in their neighborhoods after a massive, multi-agency sweep updated the city’s sex offender registry and yielded scores of arrest warrants for noncompliant individuals.
The two-month Operation Orange sent detectives and federal agents to over 100 Syracuse homes to verify where 400 registered sex offenders live.
By the time the process wrapped up, law enforcement officers had secured 85 arrest warrants for individuals who failed to legally report or update their residential information. The Syracuse Police Department says they’ve taken the majority of the noncompliant offenders into custody.
Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin emphasized accurate registry data directly impacts neighborhood safety.
"Operation Orange delivered meaningful results for our community," Rusin said. "By completing this initiative, we have improved the reliability of the registry and reinforced the importance of compliance."
Federal officials echoed that focus on accountability. Deputy Chief U.S. Marshal Chris Amoia credited joint enforcement efforts for tracking down offenders who slipped through the cracks.
"The success of these operations is a direct result of strong partnerships, information sharing, and a common commitment to protecting our communities," Amoia continued. "These proactive efforts enhance public safety and reinforce that those who fail to meet their legal obligations will be held accountable."
The announcement also marked the 20th anniversary of the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act, which established the national sex offender registry.
Longtime victims' rights advocate John Walsh launched his life's work after the tragic 1981 abduction and murder of his six-year-old son, Adam.
Walsh joined local leaders to commend the sweep and said proactive compliance sweeps remain one of the most effective tools for tracking down repeat offenders who attempt to drop off the grid.
"They're serious repeat offenders. They'll tell you that they can't stop, that it's a compulsion," Walsh said. "But they run and they're smart when they run. They're really, really smart. And they get a lot of help from other pedophiles."
Walsh urged lawmakers in Albany to give law enforcement stronger tools and resources to monitor offenders, particularly across emerging online and social media platforms.
While officers have arrested most of the 85 noncompliant individuals, two men remain at large. Law enforcement authorities are asking the Syracuse public to keep an eye out for Alfred Murray, 83, and Derek Owens, 59.
Anyone with knowledge regarding the whereabouts of the missing sex offendors should immediately contact the Syracuse Police Department Criminal Investigations Warrant Squad.
