06/21/06 Board of Public Safety Special Minutes

Home Browse Search

SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 21, 2006 The Board of Public Safety met in a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, with President Jesusa Rodriguez and Board Members Juanita Dempsey, Donald Alford, and Patrick D. Cottrell present. Board Member Bruce J. BonDurant was not present. Also present were Police Chief Thomas H. Fautz and Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar. Fire Chief Luther Taylor was not present. The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Meeting Room, 13~` Floor, County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana. POLICE DEPARTMENT FILING OF FINDINGS OF FACT -CHARGE 06-07 -CORPORAL RON JOHNSON President Rodriguez stated that the board is in receipt of the Findings of Fact for Corporal Ron Johnson. The Findings of Fact were accepted for incorporation into the minutes as follows: CITY OF SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE CHARGES AGAINST RONALD JOHNSON SS: TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA CHARGE NO. 06-07 FINDINGS OF FACT The Board of Public Safety makes the following Findings of Facts in this case on the 21 st_ day of June, 2006: FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS During the fall of 1998 Ronald Johnson, a Corporal in the South Bend Police Department, worked at the entrance of or inside a bar called Finnigan's at 113 East Wayne Street, South Bend, Indiana. As part of his work he performed certain law enforcement related activities and security. Corporal Ronald Johnson's activities at Finnigan's in the fall of 1998 violated Section 445.00(A) of the South Bend Police Department Duty Manual, conduct unbecoming a police officer and violated IC 36-8-3-4(b)(2)(B) and (H). In addition to the Findings of Fact, Police Chief Thomas Fautz submitted a letter in regard to the disciplinary matter concerning Corporal Ron Johnson, mentioning that the letter was self-explanatory. Chief Fautz feels that a suspension in excess of five days would be appropriate. Since by Statute he is limited to assessing disciplines of five days or less, and cannot fmd an established precedent for a like behavior, he stated it is not appropriate to make a recommendation. Chief Fautz stated he trusts the judgment of the Board of Safety to take proper action in this matter, and only requests fairness and consistency. President Rodriguez instructed the Clerk of the Board to serve the appropriate paperwork to Corporal Ronald Johnson.