TheIndyChannel.com

ticketnetwork
Indiana News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story
Abdul Hakim-Shabazz,
host of "Abdul in the Morning"
on WXNT (1430 AM)

City Quashes Interview About Sex-Offender Ban

Radio Host: Official Was Set To Say Rangers Wouldn't Enforce Ordinance

POSTED: 7:49 pm EDT June 12, 2006

Superiors of the city's parks director prevented him from giving a radio interview after he indicated that park rangers wouldn't enforce the city's new ban on convicted child molesters at playgrounds, the show's host said Monday.

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, host of "Abdul in the Morning" on WXNT (1430 AM), said that during an off-air conversation last week, city parks Director Joe Wynns told him that enforcement of the ban would be left to city police and Marion County sheriff's officers. Wynns said there aren't enough park rangers to deal with it, according to Hakim-Shabazz.


Video: Watch Report

"I thought park rangers would write tickets," Hakim-Shabazz said. "(Wynns said) 'No, no, no -- that's not our job. That's IPD's job. We are not in the sex-offender business.'"

Wynns was scheduled to talk about the issue on the radio show, but a city representative called Hakim-Shabazz to cancel Wynns' appearance, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

The city also said Wynns couldn't talk to 6News. The city's chief attorney, Kobi Wright, said park rangers would enforce the ban, and that he believes Hakim-Shabazz might have misunderstood Wynns.

"It will be enforced by the Marion County Sheriff's Department, the police department and the park rangers," Wright said Monday.

The ordinance prohibits sex offenders who are convicted of crimes against children from being within 1,000 feet of playgrounds, recreation centers, swimming pools, sports fields or other facilities when children are around. The ban includes an exception if an adult with no history of sex crimes is with the offender.

When asked about Wynns' unavailability for interviews, Wright said it is important for city officials to speak with one voice about the ban because the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit against it.

Hakim-Shabazz was skeptical about the suggestion that he misunderstood Wynns.

"I don't know how you can misunderstand something when someone says, 'We're not in the sex-offender business.' What's confusing? I have no idea," Hakim-Shabazz said.


Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

It was bound to happen. There are now applications for your cell phone that can help you avoid speeding tickets as well as traffic jams. Drive carefully. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

Sponsored Links