2004 Performance Based Budget - Laserfiche WebLink

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trailer with equipment vahied at $125,000 fair use throughout the Region We have also recei<~ed a portable chemical hazard machine which has a database of 28,000 chemicals for testing unknown liquid and sollid substances. Homeland Sectuity grants through St. Joseph County bought three trailers filled with specialty equipment and medical supplies for various situations. They will be stationed around the county and will be available for use in emergency situations. Funds were also provided for a new Bomb SWAT truck and to outfit all police officers with gas masks. All South Bernd "First Responder" police officers will receive training in Civil Unrest, WMD Awareness, Operations and Officer Survival Skills during 2004. Both departments have participated in the aziti-terrorism response committee and in joint training exercises with the Health Department, County Emergency and other local public safety forces. We continue to prepare for what we hope will never happen. We can't leave this subject without remembering our local forces who are in Irael or ~-fghanistan. We are grateful for their service and wish them safety and a speedy return In Julie the community turnexi out in force to welcome home a contingent of Marines with a parade down Main Street. It was a joyful celebration As we look to the future for both Police and Fire Departments, I am discouraged by our lack of success in recruiting eligible minority applicants. We want our workforce to reflect the community it serves. Much attention has berm focused on the Police Department, but the Fire Department and other City offices have also fallen behind in this effort. Chief Fautz has given this significant attention. He has appointed a fulll time Minority Recruihnent officer and is considering creating a Minority Outreach Coordinator toy serve as liaison with the community. We have developed a relationship with the Police Corps, seeking to recruit their graduates and to encourage local students to enter the program. We have established an intern program with Ivy Tech. Students attend a semester of law e+nforceme;nt studies, undergo mock entrance exams and agility testing and can apply as interns with the Police Department. IUSB Criminal Justice students are developing a theme calendar focused on a "career in policing." I know that this is a priority for Chief Taylor too. To take this efl'ort to the ~iext level we will hire a firm to help design a minority recruitment campaign. We will host a community forum on this topic. We will ask the South Bend Tnbune, The Communicator, L.a Pren,a and local electronic media to participate actively in A-31