The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2024 5-15 Board of Public Safety Meeting Minutes MAY 15, 2024 28 I.EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board of Public Safety met in the Executive Session on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 8:32 a.m. with Board President Dan Jones and Board Members, Darryl Heller (not present) Lee Ross, Al Kirsits, Pamela Claeys and Attorney Danielle Weiss. At 8:48 a.m., Chief Ruszkowski, Assistant Chief Skibins, and Attorney Connell joined the meeting. The meeting was held in the Chief’s Conference Room, South Bend Police Department, 701 West Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana and virtually via Microsoft Teams for the purposes specified in I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(a) to receive information concerning and individual’s alleged misconduct. The meeting concluded at 9:04 a.m. BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Daniel Jones, President Lee Ross, Member _________________________________ Al Kirsits, Member ______________________________ Pamela Claeys, Member ATTEST: ___________________________ Theresa Heffner, Clerk I. REGULAR MEETING The Board of Public Safety met in the Regular Meeting at 9:16 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, with Board President Dan Jones, and Board Members Darryl Heller (not present) Lee Ross, Al Kirsits, and Pamela Claeys were present. Also, Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski, Fire Chief Carl Buchanon, and Attorneys Danielle Campbell Weiss, Adam Taylor, Kylie Connell, and Board Clerk Theresa Heffner. The meeting was held in the Auditorium, South Bend Police Department, 701 West Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana and virtually via Microsoft Teams at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2024BPSHybrid Attorney Weiss asked that everyone mute their microphone when not speaking and reminded attendees that comments from the public should be saved for the Privilege of the Floor portion of the meeting. Attorney Weiss then read through the agenda to note any additions or corrections. A.ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Board President Dan Jones welcomed the public, called roll, and confirmed the presence of the Board Members. B.APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Lee Ross, and carried by roll call, the Board approved the Minutes of the April 17, 2024 regular meeting. C.POLICE DEPARTMENT 1.APPROVE HIRING OF PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS Brandon Clark Nicholas Hess Daniel Kurz Thomas Petrizzo MAY 15, 2024 29 Jeffrey Rose Nathaniel Taborn Eric Vargo Chief Scott Ruszkowski submitted letters of Recommendation for the hiring of the Probationary Police Officers above, effective May 15, 2024. Chief Ruszkowski stated the above Officers have met the requirements of the application process of the SBPD and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Friday, May 3, 2024. Upon a motion by Al Kirsits, seconded by Lee Ross, and followed by a roll call, the Board approved the hiring of the above Probationary Police Officers. 2. SWEARING IN OF PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS Captain Fulnecky gave a brief biography, highlighting their talents, achievements, education, and interests. City Clerk Bianca Tirado administered the oath which was then followed by the badge pinning. 3. ACCEPT LETTERS OF RESIGNATION Hunter Miller Alexander Williams Chief Scott Ruszkowski submitted a letter of Resignation for the above Officers. Chief Ruszkowski stated Officer Miller was sworn on the Department June 21, 2017 and his effective date of resignation was May 13, 2024. Chief noted Officer Williams was sworn on the Department April 17, 2019 and his effective date of resignation was April 13, 2024. Board Member Lee Ross accepted the Letters on behalf of the Board. 4. APPROVE LEXIPOL POLICIES Withdrawal of 323 (Approved April 17, 2024) and Approve Corrected Policy 323 304 – Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths 1004 – Drug-and Alcohol-Free Workplace 1017 – Outside Employment and Outside Overtime 300 – Use of Force LETB Uniform Statewide Policy Attorney Kylie Connell submitted the above Lexipol Policies for approval and reminded the Board Members and the public that the above policies were submitted to the Board at the March 2024 Board of Public Safety Meeting. She advised Board members of the minor changes to each of the policies and noted Policy 323 is being re-submitted due to the Board Members being given an older version at last month’s meeting. Pam Claeys noted a small typo in Lexipol policy 304. Upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Lee Ross, and followed by a roll call, the above Lexipol Policies were approved. 5. FILE MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT APRIL 2024 Chief Scott Ruszkowski submitted the monthly statistical analysis report for April 2024, and stated there was a twenty-seven percent (27%) decrease in Part One Offenses. He added that items on the transparency hub can never be exact because things can change from the time of reporting versus the results of the investigation. This can happen forty (40) to fifty (50) times per year. MAY 15, 2024 30 6. RECEIVE UPDATE OF AWARD FROM INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated the SBPD previously received notice that they were awarded a grant to provide the officers with Adapt Pharma Nasal Narcan for four (4) years in December of 2021. Sergeant Knepper stated because of this grant, the SBPD just received one hundred (100) more units of Narcan from the State of Indiana Health Department and the St. Joseph County Department of Health. Sergeant Knepper noted this is the fourth time since receiving the award that SBPD has been able to utilize this grant, and it supplies the SBPD with an all-in-one unit requiring no assembly, that can be used immediately. Sergeant Knepper stated the SBPD is extremely grateful for this valuable tool in fighting the opioid crisis. Sergeant Knepper noted that two hundred (200) units were issued and administered in 2023. D. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. ACCEPT LETTER OF RESIGNATION – JUSTIN RANKERT Chief Carl Buchanon submitted a letter of Resignation for Justin Rankert. Chief Buchanon stated Firefighter Rankert was appointed to the SBFD on August 18, 2023, and his effective date of resignation was May 8, 2024. 2. FILE MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT FOR APRIL 2024 Chief Carl Buchanon submitted the monthly statistical analysis report for April 2024. He noted that the inspection division completed 211 inspections by three (3) inspectors and one (1) part-time inspector that is helping out. This number does not include the number of times that the inspectors had to go back to a location to do a second inspection. Chief Buchanon explained that the smoke detector program provides free detectors to be MAY 15, 2024 31 installed by a firefighter, so they can ensure they are working properly and are installed in the appropriate locations. Pam Claeys asked why there is such a large amount of damage in structural fires. Chief Buchanon noted that they have upticks at times. He noted that they are responding to two (2) house or business fires each day. Pam Claeys noted that there were a lot of events and 1500 hours in March. Chief Buchanon stated that community outreach is vital. If we can market the younger minds, they will take it home to the adults. E. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR MAY 15, 2024 32 Attorney Weiss reminded the public to use the hand-raising function of Microsoft Teams to indicate their desire to speak during Privilege of the Floor. She reminded attendees that they would be allotted three (3) minutes to speak. There was no one present or virtual that wanted to speak. F.ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, upon a motion by Lee Ross, seconded by Al Kirsits, and carried by roll call, the meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m. BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Daniel Jones, President ______________________________ Lee Ross, Member ______________________________ Al Kirsits, Member ______________________________ Pamela Claeys, Member ATTEST: ___________________________ Theresa Heffner, Clerk