Police Step Up Effort to Apprehend Molester : Crime: Volunteers are sought in a door-to-door leaflet campaign. LAPD also calls in outside experts.

VAN NUYS — Frustrated Los Angeles police stepped up their manhunt Friday for a serial child molester stalking San Fernando Valley schoolchildren, asking for weekend volunteers to help pass out 100,000 leaflets in a door-to-door effort to find the elusive assailant.

Police, who convened an informal summit meeting of department and outside experts Friday, said the investigation is now considered to be among the biggest deployments of officers since the notorious Night Stalker and Hillside Strangler murder cases.

“There is a full commitment to this,” said Lt. John Dunkin, one of several downtown police spokesmen temporarily assigned to Valley police headquarters starting Friday. “I can’t remember the last time we had this many people committed to one series of crimes, except maybe the Night Stalker case.”

Stymied in their current efforts, police said they recognized the need to make an even stronger appeal for the public’s help. Since the molester’s activities were first made public in mid-November, police have deployed more than 100 officers and dozens of detectives, but they still have no suspect.

Authorities hope that by blanketing the Valley with wanted posters, someone will come forward to help. The flyers feature three composite drawings of the man, along with descriptions of the crimes and his method of operation. They also include telephone numbers people can call if they have information about the case.

“This is serious,” Dunkin said. “We’re frustrated that children continue to be victimized. This guy is out there, and someone knows him. We hope that they will come forward.”

The police spokesman said such tactics have worked in the past.

“When we look back at all of our successes--the Hillside Strangler, the Night Stalker--we have success when the community is informed and we get together and work with the community,” Dunkin said. “ . . . That is where the tip is going to come from.”

The molester is described as a black man, 35 to 45 years old, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. His hairline may be receding and, in some reports, victims said he has a slight beard. He also has been seen driving a burgundy-colored, American-made sedan, possibly a Cadillac, police have said.

Those wishing to help distribute leaflets should report to any of the five Valley police stations early Saturday or Sunday, preferably before 8 a.m., police said. The stations are: Van Nuys Station, 6240 Sylmar Ave.; West Valley Station, 19020 Vanowen St., Reseda; Devonshire Station, 10250 Etiwanda Ave., Northridge; Foothill Station, 12760 Osborne St., Pacoima, and North Hollywood Station, 11480 Tiara St.

Police believe the molester has stalked at least 32 young schoolgirls and boys since February, molesting many of them and in one case raping a 9-year-old Canoga Park girl on her way to school. The molester has continued his activities despite an increased police presence and local and national publicity, even striking twice near a school just blocks from the LAPD’s Valley headquarters.

Authorities this week announced a toll-free number for people to call with tips--1-800-757-2489--from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. During off hours, tipsters can call police headquarters at (213) 485-3261.

In addition, a $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the molester.

On Friday, police officials from throughout the department met at Valley headquarters to analyze their investigation to date, and to seek advice from outside experts on how to proceed. One of the experts was William C. McLaughlin, a criminal intelligence specialist with the state Department of Justice’s Sexual Habitual Offender Program. The SHOP program, based in Sacramento, tracks the state’s most serious molesters and other sex offenders.

“It’s not a matter of second-guessing what has already been done,” Dunkin said. “We are just looking at things from a larger perspective. Sometimes you get so close to an investigation you overlook things that others might see.”

Since last month, the specter of the molester has terrorized Valley students, parents and school officials, disrupting the learning process and frustrating scores of police officers who have tried in vain to track him down.

At least two men have been arrested, brought in for questioning and publicly named, prompting some criticism of police. One of them, James Elliott Singletary, held a news conference Friday to say the publicity has made him feel ashamed in public, and fearful of the police.

Singletary also said he is afraid to drive his burgundy-colored sedan, for fear of being stopped again. “I went and bought a bus pass,” he said, “so I wouldn’t have to drive my car.”

Police officials have admitted they could have done a better job of recognizing the pattern of molestations when the assailant first struck, and have said they will consider ways of improving cooperation between the LAPD and school district police.