Laserfiche WebLink
South Bend Police Department <br />701 W. Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />INTER OFFICE MEMO <br />To: Common Council Members <br />From: Chief Thomas H. Fautz <br />Date: 06/29/07 <br />Re: Promotional System for the South Bend Police Department <br />In an effort to further enhance the professionalism of the.South Bend Police Department, <br />I have launched several initiatives including CALEA Accreditation, Performance Evaluations, <br />and use of the Police Executive Leadership Academy for career development. The next logical <br />step is the forn~ation of a promotional system. <br />We have been working with IPSP (Institute for Public Safety Personnel) on devising and <br />implementing a promotional system for sworn-officers for the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant. <br />IPSP is the same company that has developed and is currently administering the new Promotional <br />System for the South Bend Fire Department as well as our performance evaluations. <br />Currently, promotion has been a "state-of-nature" and based upon the opinion of the <br />Chief of Police. Qualifications for a promotion were based upon the officer submitting a report <br />that highlighted their qualifications, and the opinion of the Chief of Police. The current system <br />can be easily biased with subjectivity and personal.opinion. <br />First, a promotional system for the South Bend Police Department would be another <br />improvement towards professionalism and bringing the department up to standards with the law <br />enforcement community. There are many Indiana police departments that are similar in size to <br />South Bend with a promotional system..Those departments would include Fort Wayne, <br />Evansville, Kokomo and the Indianapolis Metro Police Department. Other Indiana police <br />departments while not similar in size but with a good reputation, include Carmel, Fishers and <br />Plainfield. In the police culture, when you tell other police departments how a South Bend <br />Police Department officer is promoted it is not unconunon to see a look of skepticism or the <br />comment, "How big is your department?" <br />Second, a promotional system "levels the playing field" for all officers. Now there would <br />be a measurement azid testing component to identify the future leaders. Officers will have <br />