Sex offenders banned in parks

• By VIC COUVILLION
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Nov 4, 2009 - Page: 3B

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HAMMOND — The City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting registered sex offenders from entering city parks or public recreational facilities.

The council also authorized the Hammond Police Department to post signs informing the public of this new regulation.

The council members’ action, approved without a dissenting vote, came after police detective Chad Hill told them that 60 registered sex offenders reside in Hammond and that 294 registered sex offenders live in Tangipahoa Parish.

Further, Hill said, Hammond’s location relative to heavily trafficked interstates 12 and 55 makes the city vulnerable to sex offenders.

“These sex offenders move around a lot, and they seek out parks and recreation centers where young people tend to congregate,” Hill said. “We won’t tolerate those kinds of things in our city, and this ordinance is one way to let them know they are not welcome.”

City Attorney Andre Coudrain said passage of the ordinance would promote the general welfare and public safety of Hammond’s citizens.

In an unrelated matter, the council agreed to accept a $220,000 proposal from Aegis Systems of Covington to conduct training for the city’s nonprofit organizations so they may better serve special needs in the community.

Zarin Miller, an Aegis Systems representative, said members of about 30 nonprofit organizations would be given specialized training in public service during the two-year contract.

The cost of the contract will be covered by an American Recovery and Reconstruction Act grant.

In other business, the council agreed to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with Kidcam LLC of Kenner to conduct the city’s summer day camp program.

Kidcam official Mario Brazile said that day camps would be conducted from June through August. His firm will hire and train qualified camp staffers.

Kidcam will offer the same activities previously provided by the Hammond Recreation Department’s day camp programs.

Brazile said that some additional activities may also be available through Kidcam.