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Health and Public Safety Committee February 7, 2000 Page 4 are resulting in more road rage incidents. The Chief plans to utilize two(2)officers per day using radar guns and rotating them to areas throughout the city for a very limited period of time which will cost approximately $ 20,000. This is a limited attempt to address an increasing problem in his $ 19 million budget. The Chief would like to bring back the Traffic Division,but due to budgetary restraints he must first focus on the crack problems. Council President Pfeifer stated that the business corridor revitalization projects should be implementing traffic calming devices on an ongoing basis. Council Member Aranowski cited numerous examples of drivers running red lights even when he was riding with an officer. He sees the problem increasing. Council Member Ujdak inquired whether the police station must be located next to the jail. Chief Bennett stated that he does not believe it has to be,however cautioned that the county officials may have a different opinion. Chief Bennett summarized the new standards for physical fitness mandated by the state. The 16"vertical jump requirement has been the stumbling block for several candidates. In response to a question from Council Member Kirsits, Chief Bennett stated that four (4) persons are assigned to Special Crimes currently. The Chief believes that the best people should be placed there and that this assignment was not appreciated in the past. Council Member Kirsits noted equipment problems where he personally saw the Special Crimes van being jump started at a crime scene. Chief Bennett believes that Special Crimes should be off-site in light of the sensitive nature of the information. Chief Bennett noted that Captain Wanda Shock s doing crime prevention exclusively and that her training duties have been reasssigned to another officer. Council President Pfeifer encouraged beat officers to attend neighborhood association meetings for even 5 to 10 minutes. The Chief stated that he is attending all such meetings first and then will have beat officers attend thereafter. Council President Pfeifer also noted the numerous locations where officers could receive training in Spanish. Chief Bennett noted that all officers receive basic Spanish training as a first step. He stated that he would post listings of locations at the police station. In response to a question from Council Member White as to how the Council can be more supportive to him and the Police Department,Chief Bennett concluded by stressing that all Council Members should contact him so that each rides with a beat officer and the opportunity for more discussions and continuing dialogues of this type. Assistant Chief Switalski noted that Chief Taylor and Assistant Chief Prawat were in Indianapolis on a legislative item and could not be present. He stated that the# 1 priority for the fire department would be a training facility. The site location and funding was their goal by the year 2001. He noted that in 1997 when the department expanded by 28 firefighters that the South Bend Fire Department had to go to the Clay Township facilities for training which they found embarrassing for a city our size. He noted that the department had met with Bob Case of Economic Development for site location information. They are currently pursuing land west of the airport and looking at a lease arrangement with the airport authority. They are looking at a joint regional concept which would open additional funding sources for the building of such a free-standing facility. He cited morale