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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-83 Public Safety Committee QInmmmn Xrpori Ma tit Mammon Oiount l atilt OItty of orndli NPnb PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE • The Executive Session of the Public Safety Committee set for February 15, 1983 was called to order by its Chairman Councilman John J. Harris, Jr. at 3: 30. p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. • Persons in attendance included Councilmen Beck, Voorde, Harris, Mc Gann, Joseph Kernan, George Hill, Gladys Muhammad, Carl Ellison, Kathy Barnhard, Pastor Walter Dillis, Jr. , Rev. R. B. Ragland, Larry Johnson, Rev. Dave S. Davis, Robert Gammage, Lee C. McKnight, Patricia Campbell Glenn, DeWitt Hunter, Rev. Booker West, Elmer Carr, Stanley Przybylinski, Mayor Parent, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand; Ed Friend, Eugenia Schwartz and Chief Thompson. Councilman Harris stated that the purpose of the Executive Session was to receive information regarding the reassignment of City Police Officer Donald Allen. He then read the notice of meeting dated February 11, 1983 and•read the names of individuals specifically invited to attend. Councilman Harris then asked the Council Attorney ,for a legal opinion regarding the meeting. Mrs. Cekanski-Farrand stated that because the meeting was called as an Executive Session that only persons specifically invited could attend the meeting. She noted that individuals present and requested to be in attendance by the Mayor could only remain if the news media also had the right to attend the meeting. She stated that either the . meeting is totally open to all members of the public or it is closed to those invited by invitation: Mayor Parent believed that all person which he had invited had a right to stay since he had informed Councilman Harris that he was, inviting these individuals. Following further discussion, Councilman Harris decided to open the meeting and have the City Clerk' s office contact all news media informing them of the meeting and their right to participate. The meeting was recessed until approximately 4 :05 to allow members of the news media to attend. Councilman Harris then reconvened the meeting and stated that because of his concern and the number of persons contacting him regarding the February 10, 1983 article in the South Bend Tribune entitled "Blacks angered by reassignment" (copy attached) He was holding the meeting today. He then read portions of the article. Urban League President Lee McKnight was then called upon -by Councilman Harris. Mr. McKnight stated that a large number of blacks are concerned about this reassignment. In his conversations with Dr. Roland Chamblee, Black American Colation Chairman they believed that the City Administration should have been more sensitive to the needs of the black community. Councilman Harris then called upon the Council Attorney for a brief update. She then briefly explained why the meeting was now open to the public. She also reviewed the minutes of September 18, 1979 and November 10, 1981 of the Board of Public Safety which dealt with Police Officer Donald Allen. She specifically noted that the Board found Officer Allen in violation of Section 302-12G of the General Rules and Regulations of the South Bend Duty Manual whic rase . I.s ^. ►ua i.HIH.CO. Jr Page 2. Public Safety Committee reads "Officers shall conduct themselves at all times, both on and off duty in such a manner so as to reflect most favorably on the Department. Conduct unbecoming an officer shall include but not be limited to : G. Willful maltreatment of a citizen or prisoner. " The Board demoted Officer Allen to. a Corporal and suspended him from the force for thirty days with a forfeiture of pay in the amount of $1,265. 10, and that any "future similar charge against this officer will result in the consideration of his dismissal from the force. " Councilman Harris then called upon the Mayor. Mayor Parent thanked Councilman Harris for the meeting and stated that he preferred it to be open. He believed that a. much broader prospective of the situation was in order. Councilman Harris advised the Mayor "not to give a political speech" and to confine himself to the issue of the reassignement. Mayor Parent stated that he was concerned about how the . Administration of the Police Department was being preceived especially since this entire event was started by the news media. He believed that the overall aim would be for betterment of the Police Department. He then asked Mrs. Schwartz to give a detailed background of the facts surrounding Sgt. Allen. Mrs. Schwartz then passed out a brief summary of all of the events which specifically noted Sgt. Allen' s misconduct at an incident at the Red Door Club on May 10, 1979 and and incident involving the arrest of Craig M. Stevens June 17, 1977. A copy of this summary is attached. She further noted that the information regarding the Board of Public Safety' s involvement listed by the Council Attorney was correct and that the reassignment was a transfer and part of the day to day operations of the Police Department administration. Mr. Carr, President of the Board of Safety stated that the main issue was Officer Allen' s reputation and his conduct in dealing with persons. Excessive force basically means police brutality. Suspiciofts;. are raised in the black community and especially with the black youth. He believed the Chief of Police acted within his right since crime is on the increase. Rev. Dillis also believed that the Chief had the right to transfer Sgt. Allen. He was concerned about the possibility of double jeopardy if we look at what he has done since his disciplinary action. He should be able to serve anywhere within the Department. Councilman Voorde appreciated the clarification of the penalty imposed on the officer since many persons believed that the assignment to the Labortary was a part of the punishment, but it clearly was not. Gladys Muhammad of the YWCA voiced several concerns. She stated that someone should be accountable on ...iimproper conduct matters and specifically brought this to the attention of the Chief of Police and Mayor Parent. Councilman Beck voiced concern that the prior penalty was inadequate, but believed that the overall system does work. Councilman Harris stated that the article itself in the newspaper was a public complaint which needed attention. A meeting of this type brought all persons and information to the forefront. The Police Chief added that Page 3. Public Safety Committee complaints are handle by the Section Captains and then through the Internal Affairs Office with the Board of Public Safety having the final authority over disciplinary actions. One of the individuals stated that the overall question now is "Is there peace on the Police Department" . Following further discussion by the Committee, Councilman Harris thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Councilman John J. Harris, Jr. Chairman