02-07-00 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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atommitttt .sport. Health and Public Safety Committee 10 tbt common QCouutfl of the eity of 6outb Ottttn The February 7, 2000 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Andy Ujdak, at 3:35 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Aranowski, White, Kirsits, Ujdak, Pfeifer,ad Kelly; Police Chief Larry E. Bennett,Assistant Fire Chief for Operations Robert Quinn III, Assistant Fire Chief for Services Richard Switalski,Battalion Chief for E.M.S. Randy Magalinski and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Ujdak welcomed all present to the Committee meeting. He noted that Council President Charlotte Pfeifer has encouraged all Committee Chairpersons to have Committee meetings with the departments over which they have jurisdiction. Today's meeting is the first of this type with a review of the police and fire departments. Council Member Ujdak requested information both on personnel and capital needs for the next 3-5 year period. It is his hope that meetings of this type would promote dialogue and better communication. Police Chief Bennett welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Committee. He thanked Council Members Aranowski and Ujdak for riding with the police officers. He encouraged all Council Members to ride stressing that it would be appreciated by the officers and the department so that the Council Members could see first had the services provided by the Police Department. Riding also sends a positive message to the rank and file. Chief Bennett then reviewed the changes which he has implemented in the past four (4) months. He noted that he had disbanded the 4th and 5th details and has gone back to beat responsibility. He stated that officers become better aware of the good and the bad by this concept and have a better opportunity to meet the people they serve. He agrees with the Community Oriented Police concept and sees the beat policy as an integral part of it. The lack of consistency and continuity was evident before the change. Chief Bennett now has two (2) officers in Internal Affairs instead of one, a black officer and a white officer. One of his goals is to win back trust and respect. He noted that in the early 1990's,IUSB conducted a poll which showed that the police department had an 88 % approval rating. He stressed that the department must have the support of the public to be effective. Chief Bennett then reviewed his "triple-prong attack"which the department is implementing against crack houses. The department will focus on approximately forty (40) crack houses. 1st prong is utilizing SOS which will send'a weekly list to Nest of locations where additional assistance is needed; the 2nd prong is to utilize NEST; and the 3rd prong is to utilize the 3 to 8 extra police cars in innovative ways. Council Member Kelly inquired into the conviction rate in this area. Chief Bennett cited examples of low bail being set by the judges and how it negatively affects morale of the department.