10/15/2014 Board of Public Safety Minutes

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PUBLIC AGENDA SESSION OCTOBER 15 2014 68 The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:07 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 in the 13th Floor Board Conference Room, County-City Building, 227 West Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, with Board President Laura Vasquez and Board Members Eddie Miller, John Collins, Luther Taylor, and Daniel Jones present. Also present was Assistant Fire Chief Jim Lopez, Police Chief Ronald Teachman, and Attorney Cory Hamel. Board members discussed the following agenda items: - Special Police Commission Police Chief Ronald Teachman stated this Commission is for a new hire at Downtown South Bend for their parking enforcement program. - Draft Police Retail Theft Policy Chief Teachman stated Officers Scott Hanley and Scott Bryant will be at the regular meeting to discuss their draft policy. They are asking that the Board review and make a decision at their next meeting. - Halloween Trick or Treat Hours Chief Teachman noted Halloween falls on a Friday this year which is problematic. He stated the Police will staff appropriately. - Employee of the Month — August 2014 Chief Teachman informed the Board that Patrolman Timothy Cichowicz saw a pattern in crimes and did research that resulted in the solving of a number of crimes. - Monthly Statistical Analysis — Police Department Chief Teachman noted that September Part 1 violent crime offenses such as aggravated assault and rape are troubling. He noted that rape statistics are the most difficult to report because of the nature of the offense and no insurance report required to file, so they are not always reported. Chief Teachman noted the trend overall in Part 1 offenses is a 4% decline. He added that larceny is an indicator that reflects 55% of all Part 1 offenses. He stated the best indicator of violence in the City is shots fired, not actual murder statistic. As of October 13, 2014, the Chief stated the City is in the fourth year of a decline in the number of persons shot. Mr. Miller noted the Gun Violence Commission has worked with approximately forty -seven to forty -eight individuals suspected to be part of the problem. Chief Teachman noted there has been a remarkable decrease with that call -in group. Chief Teachman noted the shots fired statistics showed that the public called in only 8% of the shots fired. He noted that the Police were unaware of 92% of the shots fired based on those statistics. He explained there are a lot of factors that affect whether the public will call in shots fired including fear of retribution, thinking someone else already called in, and uncertainty of whether the sound was actual gun -fire. Mr. Jones questioned whether the Notre Dame area shootings are more frequent or just given more publicity. Chief Teachman noted that since a shooting last year, this is the first in that area. He added they are generally given more media attention. Chief Teachman stated the Police continue to meet with the Notre Dame security and students and educate them on safety and how not to be a victim. - Addition to the Agenda Chief Teachman stated he had something he would like to propose to the Board in the form of a Duty Manual change. He explained he is proposing to change in the Duty Manual the organizational chart placing the Public Information Officer (PIO) currently under the authority of the Services Division Chief to be under the Chief of Police's supervision and still be available to the Division Chiefs. Ms. Vasquez questioned why the Chief was requesting this change, Chief Teachman stated there are times when the PIO has gotten a time -off request approved by his supervisor and he (the Chief) is not aware of the request and is looking for the officer and can't find him and his supervising officer is off also. Mr. Collins asked doesn't the Duty Manual state that any information released to the public has to be streamlined through the Chief s office. The Chief stated that is what the Duty Manual states. Mr. Collins stated then the PIO should be under the Chief s authority. Mr. Taylor agreed, noting that the Chief needs that PIO reporting to him so he can report to his superiors. Ms. Vasquez asked if the other Chiefs were aware of this request and agreed to it. Chief Teachman stated yes, they had discussed it. Mr. Hamel stated the Board can add this to the agenda and approve the concept and have the Chief present the Duty Manual General Order at the next Board meeting for final approval. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting adjourned at 8:43 a.m.