The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 39

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1993 P9 Parole office upgrades security after shootinj Flier leads charity to refiise donation Cerebral Palsy group calls bikers' club ad for fund-raiser unfair, will refuse any money. One safety measure for the parole offices that the department agreed to was hiring two armed correction officers to transport parolees, a Job that used to be done by unarmed parole agents, In light of the current Incident, where the armed officers may have helped save the lives of the parole officers, that decision was a good one, DeBruyn said. Still, Trent says, those transport officers were only a step In the right direction. The two officers must travel across the state, leaving parole officers to make arrests when the transport officers aren't available. "If this incident happened three months ago, when the (armed) officers weren't there, who knows what would have happened." Trent said.

Trent, who left the district office two months ago, said state officials have not given the issue of safety appropriate attention. "For the state, it has always boiled down to funding and to what has historically been the case. Historically, It's been extremely unusual for anyone to get killed in a parole office. "It's unusual, but a situation that was going to happen somewhere it's Just the nature of the work," Trent said. Parolee Robert L.

Williams, 37. was shot once In the chest and once In the left arm Thursday afternoon after a melee that started when he resisted arrest on a charge of violating his parole. Williams, released from prison last August after serving 18 years for armed robbery, was arrested June 16 on a charge of possessing cocaine. He posted a $10,000 bond Wednesday which was set by Marion Superior Court Judge Webster Brewer and was released from Jail. The next day, he and a companion walked into the parole office for a routine visit.

There, he was to be arrested on the parole violation charge. But when several correction and parole officers tried to handcuff him, Williams struggled and his friend drew a revolver from his pants. During a struggle for the gun, parole officer Jim Gehrlch, 49, was shot in the hand. An armed correction officer fired on Williams, who was turning toward the officer. Williams' companion who had been disarmed fled.

Police do have a full name for the suspect who fled. door locks and a police communication system to protect parole officers who often arrest criminals in the building. But top officials at the correction department refused the requests, citing lack of funding, said John Trent, a former parole officer. Correction Commissioner Chris DeBruyn disagrees with employees who say safety issues have not been addressed by the department. He says the department constantly reassesses safety measures but must set funding priorities.

"The department of corrections can never be prepared for every contingency," he said. "We have to look at where there's the most potential for problems, and historically that has been inside the prisons." Former parole agent asks why state ignored concerns of security until recent tragedy. By Erica Franklin STAR STAFF WRITER Late Friday morning, a state 'employee delivered a metal detector to a Northside parole office where a day earlier a parole agent had been shot and a convicted robber killed. But some employees and former parole officers wonder why It took a disaster for the state to act on security concerns they have raised for years. Last year, the Indiana Department of Correction district parole office at 3833 North Meridian Street requested metal detectors, S3 1 (mmmmmmma mmmmam 1 I it Sri WJ A Iv ill If'" By R.

Joseph Gelarden STAR STAFF WRITER Donna Roberts and United Cerebral Palsy of Central Indiana want you to know they need money. They really do. But they won't take donations from just anyone. On Thursday. Roberts, the United Cerebral Palsy executive director, told Jameson W.

Beetham, an official of the Seldom Seen Motorcycle Touring Club: "Thanks, but no thanks." Roberts didn't object to the bikers raising money for cerebral palsy patients, but she was furious the event was promoted with fliers that said "No gays." "We deal with a population that Is discriminated against, and we are intolerant of any group that discriminates against anyone," she said. Beetham said the whole thing was a mistake, a bad joke that was unauthorized. He apologized In April, Beetham called Roberts and offered to collect donations for United Cerebral Palsy at the club's summer hog roast, slated for this weekend near Martinsville. "We Just wanted to help a good cause, so we looked in the phone book, called them up, offered to help, and Donna said OK," he explained. Roberts did not hear any more from the group until this week, when she was sent a flier promoting the hog roast.

Although she admitted she was a little surprised the biker festivities Included a topless beauty contest, it was the group's code of conduct that irked her. The Seldom Seen flier said: "No firearms. No minors. No pets. No drugs.

No attitudes. No gays." Roberts hit the ceiling. "I am furious with this group," she said. Beetham said the hog roast attracts as many as 800 motorcycle riders every summer. About 400 volunteers help set up the grounds of "Hog Hollow" for bands, a bike show and other activities, Including the beauty contest.

They expected to raise $300 to $400 at the party for United Cerebral Palsy. "We are sorry about the filers. One of our guys did it on his own, and we did not authorize the language. We got out new fliers that have different language, and I apologized to Donna Roberts." Beetham said. "It Is too bad It happened.

It was a bad Joke. We Just wanted to help." 4 Kokomo and represents Indiana on the national group's board of directors. Bob Land, executive director of Indiana Right to Life, said Indiana delegates would attend many different workshops all weekend, Including several focusing on grass-roots lobbying, organizing and fund-raising techniques. Pervading all the workshops, exhibits and speakers, however, Is the idea that the antl-abortlon position is the truth and that educating people about It will reverse public opinion. Jan Carroll of the Human Development Resource Council operated one of the many booths 1 Associated Press TABLED ISSUE: Shane Wikfors of Arizona talks with Fran Fritz, who presents an exhibit for Michigan's chapter of Right to Life.

Convention more education than emotion Briefly City STAR STAFF REPORTS Center offers new car to draw in more blood The Central Indiana Regional Blood Center is trying to counter a possible shortage of all types of blood by making the practice of donating more attractive. The center has designated Monday through July 10 as a "red zone," periods when blood supplies traditionally run low. During the red zone, donors will be eligible to register twice for a drawing to win a 1993 Geo Metro from Dave Mclntyre Chevrolet, courtesy of Hook Drugs and WFMS-FM (95.5). All blood center locations are open six days a week, and walk-In donors are welcome. Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and be In good health.

There are three centers In m-dianapolis and one each In Car-mel, Anderson, Lafayette and Terre Haute. Stamps to recognize Indiana Black Expo The U.S. Postal Service is offering a special plctoral cancellation commemorating Indiana Black Expo 1993. The cancellation will be available on a walk-in basis at the Postal Service portable philatelic booth at Black Expo from noon to 8 p.m. next weekend July 3 and 4.

Mail-In requests for the cancellation may be sent to: Main Office Window Service, 125 West South Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206-9998. Requests must be made by Aug. 4. They should be accompanied by a stamped envelope for canceling and a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return of the canceled item.

Metro bus to hold paratransit hearing The Indianapolis Public Transportation better known as Metro bus, will conduct a public hearing Wednesday on the annual update of its complementary paratransit plan. The update describes the current status of Metro's proposed paratransit services, which are designed to comply with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. Printed and cassette copies of the plan are available from Metro at 635-2100. extension 300. They also may be obtained at Metro's customer service center, 36 North Delaware Street; Its administrative building, 1501 West Washington Street; Noble Center.

'2400 North TIbbs Avenue; and five Indianapolis-Marlon County Public Library sites. The hearing-Impaired may call Metro's TTYTTD service at 562-7431 to request a sign language Interpreter at the hearing or for additional Information. Home Delivered Daily Monday through Saturday Only $1.50 per week call 63-9211 1 INDIA "rescues," it's all geared to the organization's educational mission, said Nancy Myers Piccione, National Right to Life's communications director. "People find the conventions are incredibly user-friendly. They're very nuts and bolts," she said.

"It really Is a true training mission." Most of those attending are Involved In anti-abortion and other life issue groups In their hometowns and come to gather information and tactics to take home. "I always come home full of Ideas, recharged, energized," said Cyndy Martin, who lives In some local residents attend the concerts to buy large quantities of drugs at cheap prices. Jail cells In Hamilton County were emptier this time. 'There were a lot of tickets (citations) given Instead of bringing them to jail," said a sheriffs spokesman. Last year's arrests crammed the county Jail to well over Its capacity of 109.

Deadheads follow the San Fran-clsco-based band, led by guitarist vocalist Jerry Garcia, each year during the summer tour. Concert officials said the lower arrest numbers Indicate this year's Deadhead invasion went more smoothly than last year's. "(Drug use) had been a bigger problem In years past than It was Arrests of Deadheads drop at annual concerts near Noblesville By Rebecca Buckman STAR STAFF WRITER Milwaukee At the National Right to Life Convention, there are no loud, Insistent demonstrators or grisly posters of fetuses. There Is an exhibit table selling personalized checks emblazoned with "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart," and the sex education booth is pushing signs that say, "Pet your dog, not your date. Save Sex for Marriage." But overall, the gathering of 1,600 people from all 50 states and a few foreign countries has a serious, businesslike tone.

Unlike clinic protests and the bandanas and the baseball caps," said Lt. Jim Barlow of the task force. "It didn't take much looking," he said. "Usually they walk by, saying 'LSD' or We strike up a conversation and take it from there." Task force agents seized about 5,000 units of LSD, 300 grams of marijuana (about 10.5 ounces) and 20 pounds of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Four vehicles and about $4,000 also were seized and will undergo forfeiture proceedings, said MaJ.

Tim Green, who led the task force's efforts. The amount of LSD was substantial, Green said, although the marijuana haul was minimal. The task force plans to continue Its Investigation because every year BOB 00 and then press (7267). by the Associated Press. displaying life-sized models of fetuses In various stages of a pregnancy.

She said most women still don't know "what's being aborted. I think women are being deceived." The Rev. Blair Raum, a Catholic priest from Baltimore, decried America's "culture of death." He said those at the convention were persecuted "prophets" for their morally correct views on abortion. "They'll come back to us and say, 'You are the only ones who told us the he said to cheers at a prayer breakfast. "Our nation will be asking for this someday." places for fans to stay.

Many chose Noblesville's Forest Park, which local park officials opened up for camping. The park tried to make the Deadheads feel at home this year, turning their short stay into a community event dubbed "Dead-fest '93." There were a plethora of activities, which were open to the public. The centerpiece of Deadfest, however, was a miniature golf tournament dubbed the "Deadhead Open." About $15,000 was raised, and the local economy also received a boost, said Jan Miller, recreation director for the Noblesville Parks Department. post at Redkey. No one else was Injured.

Several transportation department trucks were displaying lighted arrows pointing motorists into the driving lane because crews were working in the passing lane. Boguske said the semi, carrying a load of wooden trusses, avoided one truck before returning to the passing lane and hitting another truck. The truck ignited on impact, possibly from a ruptured fuel tank In the semi, said Walter Eller, battalion cAef of the Gaston Volunteer Fire Department. By Eric Krol STAR STAFF WRITER Grateful Dead fans have moved on to the next stop on the band's summer tour, leaving behind some eye-opening statistics: Fewer Deadheads were arrested during the three-day concert tour this year than last year, when there were only two shows. Undercover officers of the Hamilton County Drug Task Force arrested 46 people on drug-related charges at the hippie revival at Deer Creek Music Center this week.

In only two days last year, 57 drug arrests were made. In all, 93 arrests were made, compared with 120 last year. "Everyone put on the tie-dyes, this year," said David Lucas, Deer Creek's president. "I think people are getting smarter and realizing that's not the way to go." Part of the decline also might be attributed to a flier mailed with Grateful Dead tickets. The flier reprinted a USA Today article detailing strict federal sentencing guidelines for LSD possession.

"Under federal sentencing guidelines, the weight of the medium is the weight of the drug," said Richard Kammen, an Indianapolis lawyer who represented someone arrested at a Dead show last year. In other words, a dose of LSD on a piece of blotter paper could bring a lesser sentence than a dose on a sugar cube, he said. The flier also listed suggested Riley was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered head and chest Injuries. The state highway was closed for more than two hours during the accident Investigation. On Thursday, a truck driver was killed when his semitrailer struck the rear of an Indiana Department of Transportation truck and burst Into flames on 1-69 near Gaston, authorities said.

Steven J. Hutchison, 42. of Louisville, burned to death in his truck!" said Cpl. Walter Bo-guske of he Indiana State Police Trucker, motorcyclist are Mled in accidents nTr? nn uPfr my Associated Press An elderly motorcyclist from Florida and a truck driver from Kentucky were among the latest motorists to die on Indiana roadways. Wilfred P.

Riley, 77, of Altoona, was killed Friday when he apparently disregarded a stop sign at the end of an 1-65 exit ramp and was struck by a truck near Uniontown. The accident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at the Ind. 11 Inter-change'wlth 1-65, Jackson County sheriff's deputies said. 624-INFO (4636) "SCOR" Sports information supplied.