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Home My WebLink About03-21-2024 Health and Public Safety Meeting Minutes (Signed)OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO , CITY CLERK HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda I. MARCH 21, 2024 5:15 P.M. Rachel Tomas Morgan, Troy Warner*, Savino Rivera , Frank Spesia Dr. Oliver Davis , Karen L. White Bianca L. Tirado , Matthew Neal , Bob Palmer*, Patrolman First Class Brian Meader Assistant Chief Dan Skibins , Sergeant Jarveair Bourn Call to Order II. Introductions III . Health & Public Safety Committee Member Introductions IV. Presentations by South Bend Police Department a. Overview of SBPD 's force b. Community Resource Officers c. Traffic Enforcement V. Questions and Discussion VI. Collecting Priority Topics for Health & Public Safety Committee from Committee Members VII . Planning Ahead for Committee Meetings VIII. Adjournment Members marked with an asterisk (*) are present digitally Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=381543 Please note the attached link for the presentation: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/381546/S1O%20Slide%20Show%20Meeting %20slide%20show.pptx D,mi ca Kul c me ka C HI EF D EPUTY/ C HI EF O F ST M 'F INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Elive t Quijad a-Navarro D EPUT Y / DIRECTO R O F PO LI CY Matth ew Ne al DIRECTO R OF SPECI A L P ROJEC r s EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-C ity Bui lding 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend , Ind iana 46601 I p. 574 .235 .9221 I f. 574.2 35.9173 1 ww w.sou thbendin .gov CITY O F SO UTH BEN D I OFF ICE OF THE CLERK Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan called to order the Health & Public Safety Committee meeting at 5: 15 p.m. Assistant Chief Dan Skibins gave a presentation covering the staff at the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) as well as information regarding SBPD 's traffic enforcement. Chief Ski bins stated that from 2020 to early 2023 SBPD was severely down in staffing , but after working with the Mayor 's Office and the Council to implement a new salary package SBPD reached comfortable staffing levels in 2023. The South Bend Police Department has budgeted for a cap of two hundred and fifty-two (252) officers for 2024 and are currently at two hundred and forty-eight (248) officers. There are currently seven (7) individuals attending the Law Encorcment Academy and they are expected to graduate in May; after graduation they will need to complete field training as well. Chief Ski bins gave an overview of SBPD 's demographics . The current percentage of African- American officers is eleven point four percent ( 11.4%) which is slightly below the national average of thirteen percent (13 % ), but is an increase from seven percent (7%) three (3) years ago . The current percentage of Hispanic officers is six point three percent (6.3%) and has fluxuated over the last three (3) years. The current percentage of female officers is nine point eight percent (9 .8%) which is up from seven percent (7%) three (3) years ago. Chief Skibins stated that for a couple of years traffic enforcement has been affected by staffing shortages , but now that staffing numbers have improved SBPD has been able to allocate more resources to its three (3) patrol shifts. Chief Ski bins stated that there has been a fift y -nine percent (59 %) increase in the amount of traffic stops made by SBPD. Committee Member Savino Rivera asked if SBPD is noticing more Driving Under the Influence (DUI) violations , aggressive driving violations , and/or suspended license violations with the increase in traffic stops. Committee Member Rivera also asked what citizens could do to help SBPD address traffic violations that they notice in their neighborhoods . Chief Skibins stated that there have been an increase in arrests associated with traffic stops . Sergeant Bourn stated that residents can contact him at fi ve-se ven-four-two-three-fi ve-nine-four- zero-one (574-235-9401) as well as online regarding traffic complaints. Residents should note the time in which these traffic violations occur so that officers know when they should patrol certain areas. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan encourages residents to organize with their neighbors and call three-one-one (311) regarding traffic concerns because they record , document , and organize all the complaints they recei ve. Committee Member Frank Spesia asked SBPD what their staffing benchmarks are based on. Chief Skibins stated that staffing benchmarks are set based on crime level s as well as what is possible for SBPD to attain. The staffing goal for officers is typically two hundred and fifty to two hundred and sixty (250-260). The current staffing of two hundred and forty-eight (248) officers is much higher than the middle of2022 when SBPD hit a low of two hundred and nine (209) officers. Committee Member Frank Spesia asked for SBPD to detail their collaboration with Goodwill 's Group Violence Intervention (GVI) and S.A.V.E. team. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Bui ldin g 227 W Jefferson Blvd. Sou th Bend , Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.922 1 f _ 574.235.9 173 www.s ou th be ndin .gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND / OFF ICE OF THE CLERK Chief Skibins stated that SBPD holds weekly meetings detailing all gun-related incidents that happened throughout the week , and from there SBPD develops referrals for the S.A.V.E. team. Sergeant Bourn gave a presentation regarding SBPD's Community Resource Officers (CROs). Officer Joseph Cole is a CRO and covers the western side of South Bend; Officer Brian Meador is a CRO and covers the eastern side of South Bend. Patrolman First Class Brian Meador stated that he was a part of SBPD from 2007 to 2012, and came back to the force in late 2021. Sergeant Bourn detailed the duties of the CROs: attend community events , attend Neighborhood Association meetings , conduct walking patrols , implement GVI strategies , hold crime statistics meetings, hold apartment complex meetings , enforce the Chronic Problem Property Ordinance , host Citizen 's Police Academy events , host the SBPD Food Necessities Drive , host summer cookouts , host the National Night Out Against Crime , and host the annual Cops & Goblins community event. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan requested clarification on how the CROs divide the work across the City. Sergeant Bourn stated that he oversees the unit , Officer Meador is assigned to the East, and Officer Cole is assigned to the West (divided at Michigan Street). Committee Member Rivera thanked Sergeant Bourn , Officer Cole , and Officer Meador for their work. Committee Member Rivera stated that he has seen the CROs out doing their jobs in the community, and asked how residents can help CROs. Sergeant Bourn stated that residents should come to the crime statistic meetings and inform their friends of what SBPD is doing in the City. Sergeant Bourn also suggested residents to follow SBPD on social media. Chief Ski bins stated that SBPD wants to hear from residents , but if residents would rather contact neighborhood associations then they should reach out to them as well. Committee Member Rivera asked if SBPD could host more events in schools with officers so that teens can meet and get to know officers. Sergeant Bourn stated that if schools would like to organize events for students to meet with officers then they should absolutely reach out, but SBPD does not have the resources to create and organize those kinds of events . Chief Skibins stated that SBPD has its Police Athletic League (PAL) program that is targetted at the youth , and helps introduce officers to tweens and teens . Chief Skibins stated that it may be beneficial , alongside the PAL program , to have opportunities for the youth to interact with officers while they are in uniform . Committee Member Savino asked what are ways to increase diversity in the demographics of officers. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 Cou nt y-C it y Building 227 W. Jeffe rso n Bl vd. South Bend, In diana 46601 p. 574.235.922 1 f. 574.235.9 173 www.so uthbendin .gov CITY OF SO U TH BE ND I O FFI CE O F THE C LER K Chief Skibins stated that SBPD has had community leaders send people to their Prospect Day events , and recommends people attend the Citizens Police Academy. Committee Member Spesia asked if there were any community issues, such as people not knowing their neighbors , that SBPD would like to see addressed. Sergeant Bourn stated that there sometimes occurs a bystander effect where if someone hears or sees an incident, they don 't report it because they assume someone else will. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan asked if there were any members of the public wishing to speak or ask questions. Eric Griffin , President of the Firefighter's Union , offices located at 4025 Lincolnway West , South Bend IN 46628 , stated that the increase in SBPD staffing has helped the South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) in its daily operations. David Seybold , asked if SBPD feels as though the South Bend community supports them as an organization. Chief Skibins stated that the South Bend community supports SBPD . During the tumultuous summer of 2020 the United States as a whole saw riots whereas the City of South Bend saw protests. The South Bend Police Department has a good relationship with community leaders. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan asked Committee Members what priorities they had for the Health & Public Safety Committee. Committee Member Rivera stated that he would like to prioritize addressing gun violence among the youth , as well as community outreach for SBPD and SBFD. Committee Member Spesia stated that he would like to prioritize mental health, public health , and working with the Oaklawn Center. Troy Warner stated that he would like to continue having open communication with SBPD and SBFD . Committee Chair Tomas Morgan would like to hear from SBFD , and hear from SBPD regarding new policing policies and guidelines of which some people may not be aware. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan stated that the next Health & Public Safety Committee meeting will be a joint meeting with the Innovation & Technology Committee regarding the Real Time Crime Center and Transparency Hub in late April or early May. Eric Griffin stated that SBFD will be hosting a Fire Ops event for City employees and elected officials to learn more about the duties of firefighters in the City. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan stated that Red Cross is conducting a smoke alarm canvassing event on 3/23 /2024 starting at 9 :00a .m . EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-C ity Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, India na 46601 p. 574.235.922 1 f. 574.235 .9 173 www.sou th be ndin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK With no further business, Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan adjourned the Health & Public Safety Committee meeting at 6:21 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Rachel Tomas Morgan , Committee Chair NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auxiliary Ai d or Other Sen-ices may be Available upon Request at No Ch2rgc. Please give Reasonablt Advance Request whm Poss EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 Cou nty-Ci ty Buildin g 227 W Jefferson Bl vd . South Bend , Indi ana 4660 1 p. 574 .235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 www .so uthbendin .gov