12/17/2014 Board of Public Safety Minutes

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PUBLIC AGENDA SESSION DECEMBER 17.2014 86 The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:07 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 in the 13" Floor Boardroom, 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 Todd Skwarcan, Police Chief Ronald Teachman, Attorney Cory Hamel, and Board Legal Counsel Tasha Outlaw. Board members discussed the following agenda items: - Police 2015 -2016 Working Agreement Attorney Cory Hamel stated the Board previously approved the tentative policies and he is now submitting the new final agreement for signature. He noted the Fraternal Order of Police signed the final agreement already. - Set Hearings of Disciplinary Charges Attorney Hamel suggested the Board set the dates for the Hearings of Charges against Jack Stilp, Theodore Robert, and David Gnoth in their Executive Session and announce them in the regular meeting. - Shot Spotter Policy Police Chief Ronald Teachman stated he presented the draft policy at the last Board meeting, and invited the Board's input. He is now presenting the final policy for approval. Chief Teachman noted they are trying to memorialize what's been in practice already. Historically, Officers complete their normal duties, talk to witnesses and investigate, and take photographs. In addition to their normal investigation processes, this policy requires the officers go to neighbors in the area and have conversations with potential witnesses. - Donation Chief Teachman stated they are grateful when the public extends philanthropy to the programs of the Police Department. He added this donation was for workout equipment for the Police Department boxing program. - Monthly Statistical Analysis Chief Teachman noted the Police Department has weekly meetings to analyze data. He stated he is very concerned about categories showing increases, especially aggravated assault. He noted if they — could get larceny down, it would reduce all the other categories. Chief Teachman added they are also tracking shots fired and the number of people shot and that number is down 16% compared to the last three years, and down at least 42% for the last three years in December. - Leave of Absence — Fire Department Assistant Chief Todd Skwarcan stated Firefighter Grant Baker is a valuable employee, and the skills he will acquire through medical training in the field, will be useful to the department. Mr. Taylor asked what the Chiefs recommendation is. Assistant Skwarcan stated he is inclined to honor the request. He noted it is more cost effective to allow this rather than go back and replace him. Mr. Collins asked who will fill in his job duties and what will they do if he doesn't come back. Chief Skwarcan stated they would replace him in the fall recruit class. - Collective Bargaining Agreement - Fire Department Attorney Hamel stated they have resolved all the prior issues, and the Union ratified the tentative agreement but have not signed it yet. He noted the Board also approved the tentative agreement this is just the final document being presented for signature. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Police Chief Teachman noted he would like to add two items regarding discussions of Police Department policies with the Board before approval and perhaps giving them a trial run prior to the Board's official approval. He explained one of the policies is regarding the domestic violence calls policy. He stated they would like to add an eleven (11) question form that will be required by officers to fill out that will show if the victim is at risk of getting killed. He noted it would take an hour of training the officers on how to use the form. Chief Teachman stated they would like to run a trial next month to get core officers to use the form and see how it works. The other policy, Chief Teachman stated is the eye- witness identification policy. Chief Teachman noted that most wrongful convictions are based on incorrect eye witness identifications, and studies have shown that sometimes there is suggestiveness that may occur. He explained if the victim is questioned sometime after the event they have difficulty identifying the suspect. He stated they are asking for a blind identification practice in South Bend, explaining they want someone that has nothing to do with the case to be giving the photographs to the victim. Rather than have a homicide officer, they would use apatrol officer, who has no knowledge of the crime, read a script and show