08/21/13 Board of Public Safety Meeting Minutes

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AGENDA REVIEW SESSION AUGUST 21 2013 65 The Board of Public Safety met in the Agenda Review Session at 8:07 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, with Board President Patrick D. Cottrell, and Board Members Eddie Miller, John Collins, and Luther Taylor present. Board member Laura Vasquez was absent. Also present were Attorney Cory Hamel, Police Chief Ronald Teachman, and Fire Chief Stephen Cox. The meeting was held in Classroom No. 1, Central Fire Station, 1222 South Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana. Board members discussed the following items from the agenda: - Swearing In of Probationary Firefighters Fire Chief Steve Cox stated the Fire Department started with nine individuals, however one (1) didn't meet the academic requirements and one didn't meet the medical qualifications. He stated they are keeping her on light duty until she gets medically sound and can complete all of her testing at which time she will be brought back for swearing in. Chief Cox noted she has almost completed all of the required training. - PERF Buy -Back Confirmation Letter — Fire Department Fire Chief Steve Cox stated Captain Brad Fuelling has provided the Board with a letter from PERF confirming his buy back of time, as requested by Mr. Taylor when the Board approved his retirement at their last Board meeting. - Permanent Promotion — Police Department Police Chief Ronald Teachman stated Lieutenant Patrick Hechlinski was assigned to the Crime Prevention Bureau in Special Assignment last year. The Common Council recently passed a chronic nuisance ordinance and Lieutenant Hechlinksi has been selected to oversee the ordinance regulations, with his permanent promotion.. - Request for Hearing — Police Department Attorney Cory Hamel stated Sergeant Wayne Boocher has requested a review of a discipline determined by Chief Teachman below the statutory limit of five (S) days. Chief Teachman stated Sergeant Boocher got a written reprimand and was assigned an unmarked vehicle. He noted Sergeant Boocher has a pattern of stopping female motorists who don't recognize him as an officer. Chief Teachman stated he has been talked to about this previously and since it has occurred again, his discipline is to make him recognizable to the public in uniform and a marked car. Mr. Hamel noted it is discretionary; the Board can decide if they wish to recommend more or less, but they can only review the number of days off. The Chief has the authority to assign a marked car. - Employees of the Month — June and July — Police Department Police Chief Ronald Teachman explained that Lieutenant Steve Noonan responded to a call of a domestic issue at the Irish Hills Apartments and was the first on the scene to deal with the victim injured by her husband. The victim made Lieutenant Noonan aware that her husband was still in the house. When Lieutenant Noonan tried to get the perpetrator to open the door, there was no response, so he kicked the door in. Once inside he observed the man straddling his daughter and stabbing her. Lieutenant Noonan shot the man when he would not stop and carried the victim outside to an ambulance. She later died, but his response was considered exemplary under the circumstances. Patrolman John Gast was selected for the month of July for his observance of a car in an alley with the trunk open. When approached, the owner ran off. Patrolman Gast found several thousands of dollars in liquor and cigarettes in the trunk, and was able to tie the merchandise to that of a liquor store robbery. - Monthly Statistical Analysis — Police Department Police Chief Ronald Teachman stated that homicide is down and rapes are up, but only due to the change in the definition of rape that he has been talking about for the last couple of months. Chief Teachman noted a robbery unit has been formed in an attempt to bring those statistics down. He stated when extra people are on patrol, the intent is to put them in the Lincoln Way corridor where statistically most gun shots occur. Chief Teachman noted they are also trying to incorporate technology for shots fired. He explained the Board of Works will review a contract for acoustic sensors that when put in place, can sense gun shots and map locations of the gunshots. Chief Teachman added this will tell the Police where and when gunshots are happening, and determine if it they actually are gunshots. He noted the technology gives more accurate locations so the officers aren't roaming around the neighborhood looking for the suspect and get caught in gunfire. Mr. Miller questioned if there are video cameras used with the technology. Chief Teachman stated there are not, but he would like to add camera in neighborhoods where shots are being fired. He noted cameras can work with the sensors by telling them which direction to turn when gunshots are fired. Mr. Miller explained he wondered if you put a camera up, do you have to let the public know; is it an invasion of their privacy. Chief Teachman stated it is not, the technology is only looking at public streets and sidewalks.