07-23-34 Council Meeting Minutes

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r259 July 23rd, 1934 REGULAR MEETING Be it remembered that the Common Council (5T_the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in the Regular Session in the Council Chambers of the City hall, Monday evening, July 23rd, 1934 at the hour of 7:45 Pxxxx o'cloc P._,M,. All Members present,. Vice—President Grzeekowiek presided v V lc� 'Ju previous m On motion of councilmen Altfeld 'phe minutes of the previ;�eeting were -,ast read OOMMUNIOA T IONS July 23, 1934 Members of the Common Council Comiftittee of the Whole Ways end Means Committee City of South Bend, Indiana Gentlemen: In reply to a request from me-the Board of Public Safety has eskee improvement of present facilities, new decilities and the purchase of defenskve, offensive and protective equipment for the Polise Department. South Bend wants,and must have, the best trained and equipped police force in the State of Indiana. The Merthants National Bank robbery provies conclusively that the Police- Department must be modernly equipped, efficiently administered and highly trained to cope with present—day banditr The request for modern equipment made by the Board of Public Safety shall be med in full. The cooperation of the Common Council for the transfer of funds will be urgently solicited. The City controller informs me that he has received $6000.more taxes than he had previously estimated; $1800. additional income from poll taxes than estimated end that there will be a. saving from the spproprietion for bond payments to make up the balance necessary to meet the requested expenditures of the Board of Pulbic Safety. deman The Common Council, through itspower to abolish the present system of administration, can .. ofthe Board of Public Safety that they shall take proper steps to see thst the Police De ' partmen is efficiently administered, that tactidal plans are evolved to meet possible bandit attacks upon the financial institutions and citizens of our city, that the police force shall be removed from politics and a system of training officers in police work and gunnery whall be instituted immediately. The training of policemen should include all of the latest known methods of coping tith present—day crime. Police training manuals should be preps-red and periddic examinations given to all policemen. The policemen should ge given such physical training and information as will keep them physically fit and their weight In keeping with established standards. The Merthants National Bank robbery disclosed a lack of marksmanship on the part of our officers. Thid id no fault of theirs and neither are the economic conditions responsible for it. The majority of themembers of the Police Department were on the force many years previoust to the depression and shluld have been trained in marksmanship when on probation. Police training is not only beneficial to the general public but also afford protection tothe individual policemen by making his work less hazardous. Consideration should Jae given to a. plan of increased salaries for increased efficiency in add- ition to the base pay provided for. Let each policemen be paid for marksmanship with pletol, rifle and machine gun and for passing an examination based on the training manual for police work. Probationery officers should be given one yesr in which to pass the examinations or be dropped if they are incapable of meeting the requirements. Respectfully submitted, ry R. Hinkle, M ayor. July 23, 1914 L -A 11