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promoting our efforts. We will see if there :is an opportunity to create a local Cadet program, <br />which would help with educational expenses in exchange for a commitment to serve on the <br />department finr a specified number of years. We will succeed in building a workforce that looks <br />like our community. <br />We will also give the Board of Safety a larger role in this issue. Board members can reach <br />out to the comrrnmity with a unique perspective. The South Bend Board of Public Safety is <br />currently comprised of three citizens from the community. It is a separate and autonomous board <br />which is statutorily enabled to hire, fire, conunend, promote, demote, and level discipline to all <br />public safety employees. I propose to expand the size and public role of this important body. In <br />order to give the board more expertise and snore credibility with the public, we will: <br />1. Recruit and hire anon-voting; "Public Safety Advisor" to the board who would have <br />knowledge regarding public ,afety issues and 'investigations and would guide the <br />board in it's various inquiries. <br />2. Expand the board by two members, allowing it to be more responsive to community <br />concerns and needs. <br />3. Set Term Limits for the Board Members and require attendance at the Citizens <br />Police and Fire Academies. <br />4~. Expand the adminish~ative re.~onsibility of the board to be aware of the number and <br />type of all complaints investil;ated by the public safety units of the city on a monthly <br />basis. Investigations that me.~~t or exceed certain baselines, should be reviewed by <br />the Public Safety Advisor. <br />5. Provide Board review of serious internal investigations. <br />I believe that these steps will strengthen the :role of the Board of Public Safety and will make our <br />Police and Fire departments better. It will e~ihance credibility and trust in the community, build <br />respect and provide appropriate citizen oversight. I believe in the men and women of our Police <br />and Fire Departments. I believe that these improvements will complement our commitment to <br />Community Oriented Public Safety. <br />A-32 <br />