Lebanon set to hold park ban vote

LEBANON, Ind. (WISH) - Another Hoosier city wants to ban sex offenders from public parks. Several Central Indiana cities already have similar ordinances in place.

Lebanon is the latest city to join the sex offender ban bandwagon. Less than one month ago the Indiana Supreme Court upheld a similar ordinance Plainfield.

Police officer and Lebanon City Councilman Brent Wheat said, "I've had personal situations in my career where you run into folks in the park and they're acting suspicious, but there is nothing you can do about. As a parent and as a concerned citizen, that's troublesome."

The city believes banning sex offenders from parks will help keep kids safe.

Right now if a sex offender was sitting at a picnic table in a park watching kids play, Lebanon police would not be able to do anything. But under the new ordinance they would be able to give the offender a ticket and make him leave.

"I think it gives them a lot of leverage. Right now they have none," said John Messenger, Lebanon City Parks Director.

"This gives us another tool in the toolbox to sanction them and let them know they're not welcome in the park," Councilman Wheat said.

Of course, there's no bouncer checking IDs at the gate. That's why authorities say, unless police or parents know who the offender is, there’s a good chance the offender won't get caught illegally entering a park.

The Lebanon City Council will most likely put the ordinance to a vote at the next council meeting.