The DeForest Village Board will soon be prompted with a discussion about the distance limits from “safety zones” for the residency of registered sex offenders.
Trustees will also be presented with an ordinance to implement portions of the existing residency restrictions for sex offenders into the municipal zoning code.
The DeForest Plan Commission unanimously recommended the zoning changes for village board approval on Tuesday, April 28, and instructed the board to discuss safety zone changes as well.
DeForest Police Chief James Olsen presented the commission with the proposed ordinance that evening.
“This ordinance should be in the zoning code. Right now it’s in the enforcement side, so it’s in a different part (of the municipal code),” Chief Olsen said.
The village board unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-041 in December 2025. The ordinance established and defined safety zones in which registered sex offenders cannot reside and the related appeal and evaluation process.
Prior to this, the village did not have any restrictions as to where registered sex offenders could live. Olsen’s previous experience working with the Milwaukee Police Department’s Sensitive Crimes Division keyed him in on the village’s need for such an ordinance last year.
“We create these ordinances so that there’s a safety zone for families, an expectation of privacy for kids playing in public spaces… Wherever kids congregate, having a little bit of a safety buffer. But, also creating a safe space for a field of view. That’s the whole thing,” Olsen said on April 28.
Municipal attorney Dan Evans presented the change with Olsen on April 28. He added that by approving the change, the village can be proactive in avoiding future challenges to the restrictions.