Press Release  Massachusetts Probation Officers make unannounced visits to homes of sex offenders Halloween night

Boston — Probation Officers in Hampden and Worcester counties made unannounced visits to sex offenders on Halloween night to discourage them from interacting with trick or treaters. The Probation Officers checked to make sure the level 2 and 3 sex offenders did not pass out candy, have porch lighting or décor outside of their homes as to attract children to the door. 

Worcester Superior Court Probation Officers and Worcester Police teamed up as part of “Operation Watchdog.” The collaboration between Superior Court Probation Officers and Worcester Police was first launched 10 years ago in 2008. Worcester Superior Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer Anthony J. Gigliotti oversaw the effort for Probation. Gigliotti and Probation Officers Timothy Dupree, Louis Aviles, and Megan Fretes were part of the Probation team. 

 “Operation Watchdog is a great opportunity for us to be out in the community on an evening where there is such a high number of children out trick or treating. We confirmed that sex offenders on probation did not have Halloween decorations up and that they were not handing out candy to a vulnerable population.  Our goal with this initiative is to help protect the children in our community while holding sex offenders accountable at the same time. The community appreciates seeing us out, being proactive and visible with our partners from the Worcester Police Department,” said Gigliotti.

Hampden Superior Court Probation Officers made unannounced visits to the residences of 50 level 2 and level 3 sex offenders on Halloween night, October 31, as part of the Probation-established “Operation Lights Out” initiative. Their goal was to enforce the court-ordered conditions of probation and to ensure that sex offenders do not open their doors to trick or treaters, distribute candy, display decor outside their homes, or turn their porch lights on to attract children to their homes.

The team of Probation Officers fanned out to Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield, Westfield and other towns in Hampden County. During these visits, the Probation Officers—equipped with packets including probationers’ criminal record information, conditions of probation and photos—verified offenders’ current addresses and confirmed that they were in compliance with their probation conditions as set by the court.

 “Operation Watchdog and Operation Lights Out are important common sense public safety initiatives undertaken by the Massachusetts Probation Service.  The purpose is to make sure that offenders abide by the conditions of their Probation. It is in their interest and in the interest of the community to pre-emptively avoid issues in instances of a no contact order with children,” said Probation Commissioner Edward J. Dolan.

The Massachusetts Probation Service’s first Operation Lights Out initiative was introduced in Fall River more than 15 years ago by Probation Officer Michael Borden after he read about a similar effort in the Midwest.

“When we first started this initiative, I thought it would be important to keep closer track of these probationers on a night that is a special holiday for children.  Operation Lights Out gives us the opportunity to collaborate with local law enforcement in keeping children safe,” Borden said.

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