07/17/13 Board of Public Safety Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JULY 17 2013 approved. TABLE DISCUSSION REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS POLICY President Cottrell stated the Board would table this discussion at this time. 61 ACCEPT RECOMMENDATION FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR FILING — MAY 2013 — JOSEPH LESZCYNSKI In a letter to the Board, Chief Ronald Teachman stated that Sergeant Joseph Leszczynski was selected as Employee of the Month for May, 2013. The award is to recognize officers, civilian employees, on the South Bend Police Department who have demonstrated actions noted by supervisors or citizens from both a professional law enforcement position and in support of the community policing efforts with citizens of South Bend, Chief Teachman noted that he heard from others on Sergeant Leszczynski's work ethics, and he was unanimously selected for Employee of the Month. Chief Teachman stated Sergeant Leszczynski apprehended a burglary suspect on Dundee Street and recovered thousands of dollars in stolen goods. In a separate incident, he was traveling in his vehicle when he came upon a suspect's vehicle in a robbery /kidnaping. Sergeant Leszczynski positioned his Police car against the suspect's vehicle blocking his escape, and was able to apprehend the suspect. It was later determined that the suspect was responsible for numerous other crimes. Mr. Cottrell stated the Board would accept Chief Teachman's recommendation for Employee of the Month for May 2013, as outlined in his letter. FILING OF MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT — JUNE 2013 Chief Teachman stated that Part 1 offenses are determined by the FBI. He noted two categories showing an increase; robbery and rape. Chief Teachman stated robbery is of a big concern to him, with an 18% increase. He stated the Police Department is looking at crimes for patterns, victim profiles, and other significant trends. He stated that rape was redefined by the FBI to include behaviors not previously defined as rape. Because of that re- classification, statistics show a 100% increase. Chief Teachman noted that based on the old definition there are twenty -three (23) cases of rape at this time this year, versus twenty -two (22) cases last year. By the new definition, there are forty -four (44) cases this year, versus the twenty -two (22) last year. Chief Teachman noted murder shows a 63% reduction. He explained he recognizes murder statistics are marksmanship and medical response. He stated it would be more accurate to track the number of people being shot, and shots fired. He stated those statistics have not been tracked historically and they will have statistics going forward, and as of June 2013 there were twenty -six (26) people shot, versus forty (40) in 2012. Mr. Cottrell indicated that unless there were questions or objections by members of the Board, the statistical analysis report for the month of June, 2013, as submitted by the Police Department, would be accepted for filing. There being no objections, the following report was accepted for filing: UPDATE ON ANTI - VIOLENCE COMMITTEE Chief Teachman stated Mayor Buttigieg is concerned with violence in the community and convened an anti - violence commission. The commission held a meeting several months ago and heard from several people from Chicago who have implemented the David Kennedy method. He noted the policy is not yet used in the whole City, just some districts, but Chicago had the lowest murder rate since 1965 as a result of the Kennedy method being implemented. Chief Teachman stated some of the members of the South Bend Anti - Violence Committee traveled to New York City to train with David Kennedy and will move forward with his strategy. JUNE JUNE YEAR TO DATE PART I OFFENSES 2012 2013 CHANGE 2( 012) 2013 CHANGE MURDER 1 1 0 8 3 - 5 RAPE. 3 15 + 12 22 44 + 22 ROBBERY 28 27 1 132 156 + 24 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 17 16 - 1 107 72 35 BURGLARY RESIDENT 119 85 - 34 612 486 - 126 BURGLARY NON RESIDENT 30 42 + 12 233 125 - 108 LARCENY 251 257 + 6 1414 1349 - 65 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 24 16 - 8 141 135 6 ARSONS 3 1 - 2 16 12 - 4 GRAND TOTAL 476 460 - 16 2685 2382 - 303 UPDATE ON ANTI - VIOLENCE COMMITTEE Chief Teachman stated Mayor Buttigieg is concerned with violence in the community and convened an anti - violence commission. The commission held a meeting several months ago and heard from several people from Chicago who have implemented the David Kennedy method. He noted the policy is not yet used in the whole City, just some districts, but Chicago had the lowest murder rate since 1965 as a result of the Kennedy method being implemented. Chief Teachman stated some of the members of the South Bend Anti - Violence Committee traveled to New York City to train with David Kennedy and will move forward with his strategy.