Sisseton, S.D. – U.S. Marshals from the District of South Dakota spent the week of May 6-10, 2013
forming SWORD teams with law enforcement partners from Sheriff’s Offices in Roberts, Marshall, Day, Grant, and Codington Counties, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police, the Watertown Police
Department, and the South Dakota Division of Parole and Probation. Operation SWORD, an acronym that stands for Sisseton-Wahpeton Offender Registration Detail, comprised teams led by Deputy United States Marshals conducting address verification checks ensuring registered sex offenders residing within the various counties and cities were, in fact, living and working where they indicated whenregistering as an offender.

While these types of law enforcement operations are common place nationwide, “This is the first time an operation of this nature has been facilitated by the U.S. Marshals in northeastern South Dakota,” said Acting Chief Deputy Scott Rolstad. “Team members from participating agencies worked well into the evening hours over the past week to verify information provided by registered offenders living within the area was accurate”.

SWORD teams effectively worked in these multi-county areas and within tribal lands toward making the community safer, especially children, by locating and documenting where known sexual offenders live and work, while ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. Offenders found to not be in compliance with registration requirements will be investigated for potential prosecution under local jurisdiction or under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating sex
offender registration violations and related offenses in connection with violations of the Adam Walsh
Child Protection and Safety Act, which was enacted July 27, 2006.