HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-08-2006 City Announces New Members of the Board of Public Safety O�so T$
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Office of the Mayor
News Release
Monday, May 8, 2006
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications& Special Projects, 574-235-
5855/876- 1564
Tom Bodnar, Assistant City Attorney, 574-235-9241
City Announces New Members of the Board of Public Safety
Mayor Stephen J. Luecke has announced the appointments of Bruce J. BonDurant
and Patrick D. Cottrell to the Board of Public Safety. This board provides oversight for
the Police and Fire Departments by adopting policies, approving contracts and overseeing
the hiring,promotion and discipline of sworn officers.
"Public safety is a priority for the City of South Bend", stated Mayor Luecke.
"We are committed to providing proper equipment and training so that our officers have
the tools and resources necessary to perform their jobs to the best of their ability and to
provide our residents with the highest level of service possible. In turn, we hold our
departments to the highest standards and are grateful to the Board of Public Safety for
helping to guide the process and ensuring that these goals are met. We have an
outstanding group of men and women serving on our Public Safety Board. Building a
safe city is everyone's business,"he concluded.
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Ms. Jesusa Rodriguez,president of the Board of Public Safety, also noted that
"the Board takes their role very seriously and wants to work closely with both
Departments in an effort to understand what the officers and firefighters experience on
the job, and to also listen to the community and their concerns."
Mr. BonDurant is a life-long resident of South Bend and brings to the board years
of experience as a local attorney and community leader. He is a graduate of DePauw
University and Indiana University School of Law. Mr. BonDurant has been a volunteer
with Meals on Wheels for the past 20 years and is a member of the Board of Directors of
Real Services and the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County and Hamilton
Communities. He is married and the father of five children. BonDurant said, "the Board
of Public Safety is an important board that needs conscientious work performed by all of
its members and I am glad to be of service in this capacity".
Mr. Cottrell is a Supervising Lieutenant in the Security Police Investigative Unit
at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to his current position, Mr. Cottrell served as
Captain in both the Investigative and Uniform Divisions of the South Bend Police
Department. He brings a wealth of knowledge in negotiations and management
experience to the Board of Public Safety. Cottrell is also a marathon runner. "After
having served as a Police Officer for twenty-one years, and worked with chiefs of both
Departments, I consider it is a privilege to serve on the Board of Public Safety",
commented Cottrell.
Fire Chief Luther Taylor welcomed the two new members and noted that he
"looks forward to working with them, and pointed out that although we may face difficult
decisions at times, I will respect their decisions and give them my full support."
Tom Bodnar, Assistant City Attorney,has represented the board for several years
added that he "supports the expansion of the board to five members who are residents of
the City and who are committed to spending the necessary time to study the facts, listen
to all points of views and make tough decisions."
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