09-03-97 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Personnel and Finance Committee September 3, 1997 Page 3 Police Chief Darrell G. Gunn began the presentation. He noted that the overall Police Department budget will increased by 16.8%. Much of this increase is due to the lease/purchase projects for laptop computers and take-home vehicles, as well as newly negotiated personnel wages and fringe benefits. When reimbursement dollars are considered,the increase is 7.5 % and when all factors are considered the increase is 4.8 % overall. He noted that the training budget will increase by $ 42,031.00 and will focus on community diversity and better job recruitment. Don Pinckert then reviewed the handouts focusing on the many graphs provided to the Committee. He noted that one(1) additional police officer will be added and will be funded by the Indiana Criminal Justice System grant through the County Prosecutor's office which reimburses at a 1.5 ratio. A Research & Planning Assistant is proposed as well as a Program Analyst. One (1) additional Division Chief is being requested for the Community Relations Division. Three(3) individuals are currently in the Police Academy in Plainfield, Indiana; and ten (10)additional individuals are ready to go of which one(1)is female and one(1) is Hispanic. Today there are 244 sworn members on the Police Department with 256 sworn members being budgeted for 1997 and 257 being budgeted for 1998. To date, 16 officers have left the police department this calendar year: 12 officers have retired (One additional officer is anticipated in September) 2 officers have resigned 2 officers have died. Chief Gunn noted that not being at full-strength affects the overtime budget. Gary Horvath noted that the Mobile Data System originally had fourteen (14) bids submitted which have been narrowed down to two(2)with the awarding of the contract by the Board of Public Works coming shortly. In response to a question raised by Council Member Pfeifer, it was noted that the Metro Domestic Violence Unit will have five(5)officers under the direction of County Prosecutor Barnes. They will be in charge of neglect of children,murdered children, sex crimes, etc. Council Member Broden inquired into the current status of DARE. Chief Gunn noted that he prefers the impact of the school liaison program. DARE has been reduced to the 5th grade and he believes that the approximate$ 250,000 spent on DARE perhaps could be better utilized. In response to a question raised by Council Member Coleman, it was noted that there are four (4) resource police officers who are performing proactive intervention in the educational process at LaSalle,Riley,Adams and Washington High Schools. Chief Gunn noted that this is a special partnership arrangement with the private section and the federal government,with the South Bend Community School Corporation providing funding once the federal dollars are exhausted.