09/27/06 Board of Public Safety Minutes

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PUBLIC AGENDA SESSION SEPTEMBER 27, 2006 The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:02 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 with President Jesusa Rodriguez. Board Members Juanita Dempsey, Donald Alford, Patrick D. Cottrell and Bruce J. BonDurant were present. Also present were Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar, Police Chief Thomas Fautz, and Fire Chief Luther Taylor. The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Meeting Room, 13th Floor County City -- Building, South Bend, Indiana. ' Board members discussed the following item(s) from that list: - Addition to the Agenda Mr. Thomas Bodnar stated a donation to the Police Department will be added to the agenda. - Resolutions 48-2006, 49-2006, 50-2006, and 51-2006 -Fiscal Plans/Annexations Mr. Bodnar stated there are four (4) Fiscal Plans/Annexation on the agenda. He noted Resolution 49-2006 is a re-routed area which will become part of a development with Notre Dame. Part of this area, Edison Street between Eddy and State Road 23, is being annexed by the City of South Bend, although will still be owned by Notre Dame. Mr. Marco Mariani, Community and Economic Development, will be present to discuss the Fiscal Plans. Ms. Dempsey noted that part of this area has been used for a dump site. - Promotion -Police Department Chief Fautz stated a vacancy for Captain was created due to a retirement. - Retirement -Police Department Chief Fautz noted Lieutenant Steiger is retiring in good standing, and was one of the finest investigators he has worked with. - Trick or Treat Hours -Police Department Chief Fautz stated the set hours coincide with the trick or treat hours for St. Joseph County and the City of Mishawaka. -Special Police Commission -Police Department Mr. Bodnar stated this Police Commission for Parking Properties does not have the powers of arrest or the carrying of a weapon. - Donations -Police Department Mr. Bodnar stated an additional donation letter has been added to the agenda. - Monthly Statistics -Police Department Chief Fautz stated burglaries have been an "epidemic", and is also a nationwide trend. The Police Department is doing everything they can to curb the burglaries; some arrests have been made. - Employee of the Month -Police Department Chief Fautz noted Corporal Krueger has done many good things within the Police Department, including organizing ananti-suicide campaign. In addition, the Police Department has had positive feedback from the public in regard to Corporal Krueger. ~1~ Chief Fautz distributed four (4) policies for General Orders for Board members to review; they will appear on the next Board of Safety agenda. One of the policies includes domestic abuse. Chief Fautz stated the Police Department, in conjunction with the Legal Department, have been developing a new process for probationary promotions, which is an evaluation system for the ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant promotions. The Police Department is looking at a possible one (1) year probationary period for these promotions. Once the officer has successfully completed the probationary period, the request for promotion would be presented to the Board. This probationary period would show if the officer has supervisory and leadership skills as well as documented performance during this time, and would also offer coaching and mentoring. Chief Fautz stated this is the trend nationwide. Kokomo, Evansville and Fort Wayne are using this process. In addition, Chief Fautz mentioned the F.O.P. is in favor of this process. Mr. Cottrell noted there may be a possibility of law suits from those officers that may not pass the probationary period.