SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Surprise Police Department says its process for sex offender community notifications failed to notify residents of 22 registered sex offenders in the area between 2016 and 2017.
According to Surprise police, there were also 10 offenders who had not been properly evaluated to determine if they warrant a community notification.
"Upon discovering this information, the Surprise Police Department immediately established a plan to assess the scope of the issue and begin making appropriate community notifications," the department said in a release. "Additionally, an internal investigation was started to determine how this occurred."
The department has since created an "inspection function" designed to make sure "critical operations" are being completed according to protocol.
Surprise police said there is no evidence that any of these sex offenders have committed sex crimes during this time period in the Surprise area.
According to police, community notifications have been completed on eight of the 22 registered sex offenders.
Surprise police said they are "dedicated" to complete the process by March 2018.