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Week in review

By Times staff writers
Published October 30, 2005

PARKS PREDATOR PHOTOS: Officials on Thursday started posting the names and faces of sexual predators who live within 5 miles of each Hillsborough County park. They kicked off the effort in Northdale, where they unveiled the type of bulletin board that soon will be displayed at 85 county parks and recreation centers. A board in the lobby of the Northdale Recreation Center shows photos of nine sexual predators who live within 5 miles, including their names, race and date of offense. "We believe it's a safety factor," said Hillsborough parks spokesman John Brill. "If it's playground equipment or downed tree limbs, it's just another safety factor." It will take a few months to do this at every park and rec center, since each will have a different roster of faces. The parks department plans to update the information monthly.

Roughly 1,400 convicted sex offenders live in Hillsborough County, about 100 of them classified as sexual predators. The "predator" label is applied at the discretion of judges, usually for repeat offenders, those who used violence or who victimized children. The county is posting only the predators.

TEMPLE TERRACE OFFICER RESIGNS: A veteran Temple Terrace police officer charged last month with soliciting a lingerie modeling shop employee for sex resigned just before the release of an internal affairs investigation that uncovered further misconduct. City officials announced John Gillespie's resignation Monday. An internal affairs report reveals that Gillespie downloaded six images of adult pornography and visited seven pornographic Web sites from his work computer, said Temple Terrace spokeswoman Paula MacDonald.

POLICIES WOULD TIGHTEN ETHICS RULES: Hillsborough Commissioner Kathy Castor wants a new policy banning board members, their family members or close associates from profiting when the county buys property. And she wants to forbid all county employees, their relatives and associates from profiting from any contracts the government enters. Castor plans to take both proposals before the board Wednesday. She said both were spawned by revelations that fellow Commissioner Ken Hagan's father is the broker for land the county is considering buying in Branchton to build a new regional park. "Public office should not be used for private gain," Castor said.

Hagan abstained when the park proposal went to the commission Oct. 19, though he did forcefully argue for the purchase, something Castor called "entirely inappropriate." Without Hagan's vote, the purchase was rejected, 3-3. Commissioners are expected to reconsider the proposal next month after a second appraisal is conducted.

Hagan said Thursday that state law provides clear guidance on what constitutes a conflict for elected officials and government employees. He said he talked to County Attorney Renee Lee in advance of the board decision to ensure that he followed the rules. "I don't think that there is any question that this is political grandstanding at its finest by Commissioner Castor," Hagan said.

[Last modified October 30, 2005, 01:13:18]