The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 41

Comics 6 Section Business 7-12 II TV Obituaries ...13 The Indianapolis Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1989 CityISmte Polarization in Sanders case challenges leaders to lead Dan Carpenter fleeing-felon rule might allow too liberal a use of firearms. Hudnut exploded into a tirade against those who would "disarm our policemen." Nobody was calling for disarming our policemen. The mayor's response itself was polarizing. But if polarization can't be avoided anyway, what's the difference? I hope the leadership does something about the police-community rift that does exist. Something besides forming a blue-ribbon task force whose members will vote according to their backgrounds.

Perhaps the fact that Sanders is white and taught school at a parish near Hudnut's own Far-Northside church will promote substantive change. In the meantime, police and civilians alike might be well-advised to practice saying "sir." him condemned by the police union and even criticized by some Sanders sympathizers, who must think the man deserves a ticker-tape parade. Goldsmith's fate showed us there's no happy medium in a polarized situation only a thudding back and forth between the poles. What, then, did Hudnut do? Acknowledged the polarization, called for conciliation, quoted the New Testament then said, in so many words, how dare you knock our fine men in blue? The implication may not have been that police officers can do no wrong, but that surely was the widespread inference. It was the inference I drew back in the early 1980s, when a similar crisis arose over a series of shootings of unarmed black teen-age crime suspects.

When It was suggested at a news conference that the Police Department's political difficulty presented by this tragedy is particularly severe. Rarely have there been such strong feelings communitywide on both sides of a police controversy. When they are forced to take a stand (pn these thingspoliticians everywhere usually toe the thin blue line or dive under the desk. It makes sense. With all due respect for the many excellent police officers out there, the most salient facts for an elected official are that the police, as "a group, are very influential politically and very impatient with criticism.

What does a leader do? Goldsmith tried what he considered to be the reasonable approach. Finding plenty of fault on both sides of the Sanders disaster, he agreed to a criminal charge for the defendant short of murder. That got The man on the phone said Prosecutor Stephen Goldsmith had committed political suicide by letting those liberals talk him into approving a plea bargain for Fred C. Sanders in the fatal shooting of Patrolman Matt J. Faber.

The woman on the phone had it the other way around. She said Mayor William II. Uudnut had hurt himself politically by refusing to criticize the police conduct in the Sanders case. For what it's worth. I thought both callers were naive.

Between them, Goldsmith and Hudnut have risked seven elections for their offices since 1975. That's more than a decade of chances to make people mad, and none of these elections has even been close. No, the Sanders case may represent a crisis for the city's leaders: but to say it represents a crisis for their very jobs seems like a stretch. The last major Marlon County political figure to be ousted by disgruntled citizens was Noble R. Pearcy, whose reelection bid in 1974 washed away in a flood of revelations of police corruption in The Indianapolis Star.

Pearcy responded to that crisis, in part, by prosecuting the reporters. No elected official Involved in the present matter has panicked in such a way. As the calls, letters and comments on the street make clear, however, the wiiaimu.wiw.wij Long, Heath Black groups honor memory of safety chief olley i i By MARC D. ALLAN STAR STAFF WRITER Richard I. Blankenbaker, the late Indianapolis public safety director whose grocery stores were boycotted by blacks in 1987, was honored Wednesday for his contributions to the black community.

The award the first of what is to become an annual presentation was made by the Indianapolis Urban League, the NAACP and other predominantly black organizations. William A. Smith, a committeeman for the program, said Blankenbaker was being recognized for his food donations to the annual Rev. Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving dinner for the needy, his appointment of a black to be assistant public safety director and other actions. "We're looking at the total person and we're honoring a side that some people felt should be highlighted," Smith said.

Blankenbaker's family accepted the award during a Near-Downtown banquet. The black community generally liked Blankenbaker, but he fell into disfavor with some blacks who wanted lie-detector tests for police officers involved in the September 1987 Michael Taylor incident. The 16-year-old Taylor died in the back of a police car from a gunshot wound to the head. Police said Taylor, who was handcuffed and had been searched three times, shot himself with a gun he had concealed in his high-top sneaker. However, a group called the Michael Taylor Justice Task Force led by the Rev.

Wayne on issues By JOHN R. O'NEILL STAR STAFF WRITER Fort Wayne, Ind. When the two candidates for the 4th Congressional District seat met here for their third debate Wednesday, they agreed on many things. Both Dan Heath, the Republican, and Jill Long, the Democrat, want government to: protect the environment, support affirmative action hiring programs, balance the federal budget, not raise taxes and ensure quality education for all. That's only a partial list.

But here's something they disagree on: Heath, after the accused Long of running "the dirtiest campaign in northeastern Indiana history." Long, told of Heath's comment, laughed. "I am committed to communicating the facts to the voters," she said. And the fact is, she added, that crime Increased In Fort Wayne on Heath's watch. Heath is the former city public safety director. During the debate.

Long twice referred to Heath's record on crime. Robberies, assaults and burglaries increased overall in 1988, compared with the year before, Long said. "I'll tell you why they grew," Heath retorted. "They grew under a previous administration that said they didn't exist." Heath was referring to the administration of Mayor Winfield Moses a Democrat. Heath was appointed public safety director by Mayor Paul Helmke, who defeated Moses in 1987.

As director, Heatfi was -in charge of the Police and Fire departments. He resigned Jan. 17 to pursue his congressional campaign full time. The campaign is for a special election to fill the seat formerly held by Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who resigned to take over Dan Quayle's Senate seat.

See ISSUES Page 4 FILE PHOTO Richard Blankenbaker was remembered for caring. ters said they believed police killed Taylor. The group staged a two-month boycott of the three Richard's Market Basket stores to force Blankenbaker to release more information about the shooting. Blankenbaker's wife, state Sen. Virginia Blankenbaker.

R-Indianapolis. said the boycott started a string of bad luck that contributed to his death in November and forced the stores into bankruptcy last month. The stores have remained open while they attempt to reorganize. "Reverend Harris did not speak for the black community." Sen. Blankenbaker said.

"I think 1 See HONOR Page 4 T. Harris and other black mlnis- 1st maior contract 111 awarded to demolish -m -m STAR STAFF PHOTO ROB GOEBEL 5 bmldings lor mall Jill Long, Democratic candidate in the 4th District congressional race, makes a point in a debate with Republican opponent Dan Heath at Fort Wayne. Jury weighs murder charge in 'obsession' case Wednesday in Superior Court, former restaurant busboy who ing and reburying the body; stealing the victim's watch, money, credit cards and sports car: phony extortion phone calls: and a "hit list" with three state's witnesses and Amanda Keeney's names on it. Amanda Keeney and Thixton worked at J. Ross Brown's Whaling Station, 3650 West 86th Street, and began dating in July 1986.

After they spent that Labor Day weekend at a state See MURDER Page 14 By GEORGE McLAREN STAR STAFF WRITER A murder case described as a tale of obsession rested in the hands of a jury that early today was -still deliberating the fate of ayoung Carmel man. -Myron L. Keeney, a 45-year-old computer businessman, was beaten on the head with a metal pipe and strangled in his Geist-area? condominium on Sept. 20, 1986. Tyrone "Ty" Thixton.

21, a Criminal Division, Room 5. "Amanda Keeney was the best thing that ever happened to Tyrone Thixton and, in fact, he was obsessed with her," Johnson said. "Tyrone Thixton's obsession with Amanda outweighed everything else in his life and caused him to go beyond what other people would call acceptable behavior." The prosecutor said that be-. havior included the killing: bury tell in love with Keeney aaugn-ter. the restaurant's hostess, was charged with murder, robbery and auto theft.

Amanda Keeney, then 18, a striking blonde and former Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, is the motive in the crime, prosecutors allege. "This is a case about obsession." Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Carole Johnson told jurors during closing arguments house at 17 West Pearl Street will be bought for $1,582,350. Owners of the property include the Ayres company and individuals. Labaj said the city hoped to reach an agreement to buy a warehouse owned by the Goodman jewelry family. That warehouse is the last parcel the city needs to buy for the development.

The 3'2-block-Iong mall will link by skywalks and tunnels an area from Meridian Street to the State Office Building and from Monument Circle to Union Station. In other action, the commission voted 7-1 to approve a plan by Aaron Y. Cohen to develop three two-story office buildings on two acres of land at 8702 North Meridian Street. Lawyer Philip A. Nicely argued that the office development was the only proper use for the land.

More than 70 residents of the area turned out In support of the plan. The Nora Community Council strongly opposed the plan, saying it would set a dangerous precedent by allowing commercial development to move south of 88th Street. The commission also approved a request by Knoll wood Development Corp. to develop 34 acres near 6702 Sargent Road for single-family homes. By ROB SCHNEIDER STAR STAFF WRITER The city awarded the first major demolition contract for the Circle Centre retail mall project Wednesday, opening the way for five buildings to be torn down along Washington Street.

"We're off to the races," said John W. Labaj, administrator of the city's Division of Economic and Housing Development. Demolition is expected to begin by the first week in March on the Occidental Building, 41 West Washington Street the former home of the L. Strauss Co. and four smaller buildings just to the east of the Occidental Building.

Demolition work will continue into 1990 as 26 buildings are scheduled to be partially or completely torn down. The $218,000 contract was awarded by the Metropolitan Development Commission to Ed Tiller Sons of Indianapolis, one of six companies to submit bids. The commission also approved a request by the city to buy a warehouse used by L.S. Ayres Co. and a parking lot for $6.8 million for the mall development.

The five separate parcels that made up the parking lot at the northeast corner of Illinois and Maryland streets will be bought for $5,285,100. while the ware Day care license for molester a 'human error' ii- 1 1 Tl CO fn- ollortd- onno firct SinnllpH fir 3 liPfTIKP. for alleged first applied for a license, Richard Jackson, 62. "At this Doint. the state wel sons which was granted so that Helen ly molesting a 12-year-old girl in January.

Jackson transported children in a bus from various schools to their homes. The 12-year-old alleged victim, a pupil at Greenfield Junior High School, was one of those Jackson drove home. The girl was not under the care of Mrs. Jackson's baby-sitting service. State law requires day care licenses for those who baby-sit for more than five children in their homes.

In 1979, the Jack- By SCOTT L. MILEY STAR STAFF WRITER Greenfield, lnd. Hancock County Welfare Department officials will not be reprimanded by the state for a "human error" in renewing a day care license for a convicted child molester and his wife. "They feel extremely badly about this." said Sue Stanis. director of the Child Welfare Division of the state welfare department.

"Our intent now is to figure out how to prevent this 'from happening again." fare department has been very supportive and telling us to hang in there," said Susan Nichter, caseworker supervisor for the Hancock County department. Nichter and county welfare Director Richard Riegle are accepting blame for an oversight that allowed a day care license to be renewed for two years for Helen Jackson and convicted child molester Richard Lee Jackson in their Greenfield home. The license turned controversial after last week's arrest of Jackson could baby-sit in her Greenfield home. But in 1980 and 1983, Richard Jackson was arrested for allegedly molesting youths he picked up from schools, said one investigator. In 1980.

he received a one-year suspended sentence and a year's probation: prosecutors deferred the later charge. In 1986, state law required day care licensees to file nota-See DAY CARE Page 4.