Amending Municipal Code New Section 13-57.1 Use of Police Officers at Large Parties or Gatherings

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• BILL NO. ORDINANCE NO. Q7Q-90 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, BY THE INCLUSION OF NEW SECTION 13-57.1 OF ARTICLE 4, CHAPTER 13 , TO BE ENTITLED: USE OF POLICE OFFICERS AT LARGE PARTIES OR GATHERINGS REQUIRING A SECOND RESPONSE. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The City of South Bend recognizes that a loud, disturbing, large party or gathering may in some cases threaten the public peace, health, safety or general welfare of the community and in particular the neighborhood where the party premises is located. The City of South Bend Police Department may in some instances receive numerous complaints regarding such a disturbance. This may require police officers to control the threat on more than one occasion by their presence at the premises. The Common Council believes that repeated calls to the same disturbance leaves officers unavailable to perform more important duties which have greater community priority. The Common Council further finds that these calls are a serious drain on manpower and leave other areas of the City of South Bend exposed, with no available officer or assistance, should the need arise. Therefore, the Common Council believes that to discourage and minimize the frequency of return disturbance calls to parties, a service fee will be charged to the responsible participant(s) if police officers must return to the premises more than once. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION I . Section 13-57. 1, Article 4, Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Indiana, shall read in its entirety as follows: SECTION 13-57. 1 USE OF POLICE OFFICERS AT LARGE PARTIES OR GATHERINGS REQUIRING A SECOND RESPONSE. (a) Complaint and First Response. After a complaint is received about a disturbing or disorderly party or gathering, police officers responding to the complaint must determine if there is, in fact, a threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare upon arriving at the location. If the party or gathering appears to be a disturbance, the resident or person in charge of the party, or other responsible person shall be informed of the disturbance, the complaint, and the fact that the disturbance must cease. Information shall be further conveyed that the party or gathering shall be allowed to continue so long as the disturbance which generated the complaint ceases. They should further be informed that any continuing disturbance which precipitates another call and a second response by the police will result in a charge to the responsible person for the cost of the police service. A "First Response Notice" should then be handed to the responsible party,