HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-29-13 Revised News Release-Welcome Police Chief v
NEWS RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, January 29, 20ia.
Prom: Counc' President Derek Contact: 532-2200
ac ident Oliver J. Contact: 876-6938
n White, Health fety Co xnittee C hair Contact: 229-3100
CITY COUNCIL HOSTS COMMUNITY MEET& GREET TO
WELCOME RON TEA CHMAN
61ST SO UTH BEND CHIEF OF POLICE
On Thursday, February 7, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the South Bend Common Council will
host a community "Meet & Greet" at the Kroc Center located at 900 West Western Avenue in Downtown
South Bend.
At this public event, the City Council will officially welcome Ronald Teachman, who will be officially
appointed to serve as the 61" Chief of Police by the Mayor tomorrow.
Police Chief designate Teachman will be the leader of the City of South Bend's 260 sworn police officers
and 72 full-time civilian employees. Chief Teachman will inherit a dedicated police department which
proudly serves as the "thin blue line" standing between the lawful and the lawless. Last year, due to the
hard-work of the men and women serving on our South Bend Police Department, crime rates were
lowered on residential burglaries, non-residential burglaries, aggravated assaults, robberies, rapes,
larcenies, arson, motor vehicle theft, and larcenies, with the only crime statistic rising between 2011 and
2012 being the murder rate. Their efforts resulted in a 20% drop in overall crime statistics. Chief
Teachman's extensive law enforcement background, as well as his training as a lawyer, will provide new
insights and perspectives in developing programs to make South Bend even safer for our residents and
businesses.
The City Council is excited to work with Chief Teachman, and will be inviting him to a meeting of its
Health and Public Safety Committee in the very near future. The City Council will then have the
opportunity to hear first-hand his vision for the South Bend Police Department,
The partnering skills which Chief Teachman has developed with federal, state, local and civilian agencies
will undoubtedly enhance similar relationships locally, as our officers fight crime in South Bend on a
24/7 basis. The Council is charged oversight responsibilities in the area of public safety, and looks
forward to collaborating with Chief Teachman. Additionally, in light of Indiana state law requiring that
the City Council be in charge of police officer's wage and monetary fringe benefit negotiations, the
Common Council will have a full-year to work closely with the new Police Chief, before such
negotiations begin in 2014.
January 29,201.3 News Release
Page 2
The Council cordially welcomes Chief Teachman to the City of South Bend, and looks forward to
working closely with him, as the Council continues to dedicate itself to carry out its own Mission
Statement:
"To make certain that our City Government is always responsive to the
needs of our residents & that the better of South Bend is always
our highest priority".
The City Council urges members of the public, neighborhood groups, business leaders, and the youth
and seniors of our community to come out and give a warm welcome to our new Police Chief Ron
Teachman on Thursday, February 7, 2012.