02-24-99 Health & Public Safety and Committe & Residential Neighborhoods

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r etommfttte St port: Health and Public Safety Committee&Residential Neighborhoods Committee AGO t jt common eountfl of the Qtttg of South to : The February 24, 1999 Joint Committee Meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee and the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Council Member Charlotte Pfeifer. Persons in attendance included Council Members Kelly and Pfeifer,Police Chief Darrell G. Gunn, Sgt. William Bernhardt-South Bend Community School Corporation Safety & Security Coordinator/SRO Coordinator, Captain Wanda Shock-Training Bureau,Corporal Ed Hanley-SBPD Bicycle Patrol, Corporal John Kronetter-SBPD Bicycle Patrol, Carl Littrell, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Pfeifer then provided copies of the handout prepared by the Council Attorney on the upcoming proposed conference on loitering (copy attached) which were reviewed by those present. Council Member Pfeifer noted that she was interested in hearing comments from the younger officers on the South Bend Police Department because often times they have the most contact with the average citizens. She was interested in them identifying issues related to loitering. Council Member Kelly noted that the topic in and of itself raises a difficult balancing act. Captain Wanda Shock stated that the main problem is one of perception. She noted that loitering typically is of three(3)basic types: Panhandling No criminal intent Gathering Just there"hanging out" Drug dealing Criminal intent Ground work questioning is done by the police officers, who need community support. Officers also need the support of the neighborhoods and not harassment. Chief Gunn noted that a flurry of lawsuits have been filed against the department by the same local law firm in the past several months. Officers are questioning "what is the use". He noted that burn out of officers is also a reality. He stressed that "community policing" is a culture--a philosophy which has an evolutionary process. He agreed with Captain Shock that there should be support of the police officers who are legitimately doing their jobs. Captain Shock noted that following a recent shooting she prepared a serious of handouts and sent several letters through the Leadership Council for residents to attend a meeting on February 18, 1999---one resident showed. Council Member Kelly noted that unfortunately people don't get involved unless "their ox is getting gored". Council Member Pfeifer questioned what was the perception of the public officials in this area.