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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/2014 Board of Public Safety MinutesAGENDA REVIEW SESSION NOVEMBER 19.2014 75 The Board ofPublic Safety mat in the Public Agenda Session at 8:07 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 in the Auditorium, South Bend Police Station, 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, Indiana, with Board President Laura Vasquez and Board Members Eddie Miller, John Collins, Luther Taylor, and Daniel Jones present. Also present was Fire Chief Stephen Cox, Police Chief Ronald Tcachman, and Attorney Tasha Outlaw. Board members discussed the following agenda items: .Police Department Approve Hiring of Probationary Police Officers and Swearing In Chief Ronald Teachman stated the seven (7) candidates being sworn in just graduated from the Police Academy one and a half weeks ago and there are six (6) new candidates that are starting this week. - Set Hearing of Disciplinary Charges — Theodore Robert Attorney Cory Hamel stated the Board received copies of the letter from Chief Teachman requesting Theodore Robert be terminated from the Police Department. He added the request for termination is forjust cause. At the request of Mr. Robert, the Board now needs to set a date for a hearing fourteen to thirty days from the date of the request for the bearing. - Discuss Changes to Duty Manual General Orders Chief Ronald Teachman stated that back in January the Police Department went live with Shot Spotter, but never formally gave a policy on it. Chief Teachman noted the key element of the policy is very temperate from what it offers. When the Police respond to a call, after all the investigation is done, they want the officers to go from home to home asking if anyone saw anything. He noted the citizen report of gunshots fired is 8 %meaningthe Police are 92% unaware of gun shots fired. When the Police don't show up after gunfire, people think you don't care for various reasons. Shot spotter has bypassed this inaccuracy. Chief Teachman explained that recognition of gunshots is aproblem forgetting calls. People figure the neighbor will call, they're afraid of retaliation, or they're resigned to gun shots in their neighborhood. He explained there are 92% more gunshots than the police thought, and people get desensitized to gunshots. The new Shot Spatter Policy will show the Police care and make the citizens fcel safer. Assistant Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated it is unprecedented anywhere in the country to knock on doors. He added it's not an option, it's required and it has proven huge dividends. Chief Teachman added that people are now calling to report gunshots a third of the time. He added "We are changing the relationship with the community ". Chief Teachman stated the manufacturer, Shot Spotter, is so pleased with our success and our policy they are offering us placement in a 4`h square mile for free. He noted currently the equipment is placed in a three (3) square mile area that accounts for 55% of murders. Chief Teachman stated they don't publish the maps, because the criminals tend to avoid the area if they do. He added the equipment needs tall buildings and power poles above tree lines for good coverage. Mr. Collins asked if neighborhood watch groups are still being used. Chief Teachman stated they are. He went on to inform the Board that there has been a 38% reduction in shots fired since May 15, 2014. Chief Teachman stated it takes an average of thirty (30) seconds to get a confirmed call for a gunshot via Shot Spotter, versus an average of three (3) minutes for a phone call from a citizen. Chief Ruszkowski added the report goes right to the Police car and will map it, so it can be determined who shot first - Approve Changes to Duty Manual General Orders Assistant Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated they have come up with a uniform policy to prevent Police patches being sewn on to any type of clothing, adding they need to look and act like cops. Mr. Collins corrected him, stating they need to look like law enforcement professionals, not cops. Mr. Taylor stated they should be commended for this. Chief Ruskowski noted the policy addresses everything you can think of from sweaters to ball caps, etc. He added there was a need. for the policy to be spelled out and the majority of it came from the FOP. Attorney Cory Hamel stated the Retail. Theft Policy is not in a form ready for the duty manual, and he is not even sure it belongs in the duty manual. It is mainly a set of instructions for businesses to follow with very few rules that Police need to follow. Mr. Hamel asked that it be removed from the agenda. - Special Police Commissions Chief Teachman stated every Thursday in this room they bring together all groups involved in preventing crime from DC1S, Fire, State, and local policing agencies, Mishawaka, etc. He stated it has been a good move. Chief Teachman noted Code Enforcement often first encounters thieves in abandoned homes stripping the home of copper wire or other valuable property, and they need to be trained in self - defense. Chief Cox stated they met to discuss proper training for fire investigators also AGENDA REVIEW SESSION NOVEMBER 19, 2014 76 as first on the scene after a fire. Mr. Jones asked if they are comfortable carrying weapons. Chief Cox stated the investigators are, they have been trained on handling weapons. Iie added there are four (4) fire investigators, three (3) from the Fire Department and one (1) from the Police Department. - Hiring List - Fire Department Chief Stephen Cox stated the application process started in January and concluded in May. He noted they received about 330 applicants. After testing scores, they were down to 100, after agility testing it was reduced to 98, and all the interview process they were down to 91. Chief Cox noted they used — a third parry administrator to compile the scores and the list he presented to the Board shows the names, sex, and nationality of all of the applicants. Chief Cox stated they were not successful on race, but he was pleased to see that two women are in the top three candidates. Chief Cox stated they have contacted Fire Departments with minority recruitment successes to see what they are doing. He stated it has opened our eyes to outreach not being done well. Chief Cox stated they are working on that now, and scrapping the old policy that produced only about four (4) or five (5) individuals. Chief Cox stated they are now reaching out to other fire departments in the State for recruits and looking at expanding the recruit training at the new training center. Chief Cox stated he is asking the Board to approve the hiring list for two years, and they will use the list for that period. Applicants will have to retest though, which may move them up or down on the list. - Changes to Duty Manual General Orders – Fire and Police Departments Attorney Cory Hamel asked permission to remain in the Executive Session as the Police Department attorney. He informed the Board that the Police and Fire working Agreements that are ratified by the FOP will be sent to the Board when final, but meanwhile he has asked the Clerk to send to the Board and ask for tentative approval by vote the pieces sent. He stated they can be added to the final agreement that should be ready by the December meeting. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m. ATTEST: 1 inda M .Mat 'n Cl rk BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY au a A. Vasque Pr sident EXECUTIVE SESSION NOVEMBER 19.2014 The Board of Public Safety met in the Executive Session on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 9:10 a.m. The meeting was held in the Auditorium, South Bend Police Station, 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, Indiana, for the purposes specified in I.C.5- 14- 1.5- 6.1(b)(2)(A)6(A). Board President Laura Vasquez and Board Members Eddie Miller, .John Collins, Luther Taylor, and Daniel Jones were present. Also present were Fire Chief Stephen Cox, Police Chief Ronald Teachman, and Attorneys Tasha Outlaw and Cory Hamel. Board members did not discuss any subject matter other than the subject matter as specified in the Public Notice. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION NOVEMBER 19. 2014 77 BOARD 9P, PUBLIC SAFETY Laura Vasquez, President Ed 4e Miller, Member Jp Collins, MCI Luth er Taylor, Daniel Jones, M ATTEST: Inda M. Marlin, Cl REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 19.2014 The Board of Public Safety met in the Regular Meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, with Board President Laura Vasquez and Board Members Eddie Miller, John Collins, Luther Taylor, and Daniel Jones present. Also present were Police Chief Ronald Teachman, Fire Chief Stephen Cox, and Attorney Tasha Outlaw. The meeting was held in the Auditorium, South Bend Police Station, 701 W. Sample St., South Bend, Indiana. APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, the Board approvedthe Minutes of the Public Agenda Session, Executive Session, and Regular Meetings of October 15, 2014 and the Special Meeting of October 20, 2014 as presented. POLICE DEPARTMENT APPROVE HIRP IG AND SWEARING IN OF PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS - KYLE BAKER - SHAWN FRFDENBURG - MATTHEW NAPOLITAN - LUKE PICKARD - AT PISHKUR - DAVID SCOTKOWSKI - CARTER THOMPSON In a letter to the Board, Police Chief Ronald Teachman recommended that the above listed individuals be accepted for employment on a probationary basis with the South Bend Police Department effective November 19, 2014. In his letter to the Board, Chief Teachman stated they have met the requirements of the application process of the South Bend Police Department and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, Indiana on November 7, 2014. Chief Teachman stated he i s very pleased with the applicants. Each one has gone through a rigorous application process of background checks before going to the institute. Upon a motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, the recommendation was approved. Ms. Kareemah Fowler, Deputy City Clerk, was present and administered the Oath of Office to the above listed individuals. The Board wished them well in their endeavors with the South Bend Police Department. Officer Mattie Taylor read the names and relationships of who each candidate had REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 19.2014 78 chosen to pin on their badges and the badges were pinned on the officers. Mayor Pete Buttigieg congratulated the new officers and welcomed them. He noted the Oath of Office has a lot of expectations written into it. Mayor Buttigieg stated that each officer has the city name onthe logo on their shirt, noting they act as officers on behalf of the city. He stated the stakes have never been higher on the success of the city. He congratulated and thanked the family members who make it possible for their loved ones to serve the City of South Bend. APPROVE PROMOTIONS TO PATROLMAN V CLASS - ROBERT ANTON - NATHAN GATES - TRAVIS TEAGUE In a letter to the Board, Police Chief Ronald Teachman recommended that Patrolmen 2ntl Class Robert Anton, Nathan Gates, and Travis Teague be promoted in the rank of Patrolman I` Class effective December 14, 2014. Chief Teachman stated in a letter to the Board that all of the candidates have successfully completed three (3) years of service with the South Bend Police Department. Chief Teachman noted they have all perforated admirably. Upon a motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, the recommended promotions were approved. SET HEARING OF DISCIPLINARY CHARGES — THEODORE ROBERT In a letter to the Board, Police Chief Ronald Teachman stated a letter was sent to Officer Theodore Robert on November 7, 2014 notifying him of the Chief's recommendation that he be terminated from employment with the South Bend Police Department, pursuant to IC 36- 8- 3 -4(b). Subsequently on November 7, 2014, Linda Martin, Clerk of the Board, sent a letter to Patrolman Robert notifying him of his right to a hearing of the charges by the Board of Public Safety. Patrolman Robert delivered a letter on November 10, 2014 to the Clerk of the Board, requesting a hearing. Attorney Doug Grimes was present and stated he had requested a preliminary hearing before the date is set for the hearing. He stated the dates of the pre - hearing will determine the date of the hearing. Attorney Cory Hamel stated that Indiana Code is very clear that the hearing date must be set fourteen (14) to thirty (30) days out from the date of the request for a hearing. Mr. Grimes stated the Board of Safety's Rules state a pre - hearing conference may be set. President Vasquez stated the Board has decided to set the pre -trial hearing for December 8, 2014, and the hearing for December 15 or 18, 2014 subject to confirmation. Therefore, upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Collins and carried, the Hearing of Disciplinary Charges was approved for December 18, 2014, and the pre - hearing for December 8, 2014 subject to confirmation from the hearing Judge, Roland Chamblee. APPROVE REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY DEMOTION TO PATROLMAN 1sT CLASS DAVID RYANS In a letter to the Board, Police Chief Ronald Teachman, stated that Lieutenant David Ryan, has requested he be demoted to Patrolman in Class in order to return to the Uniform Patrol Division. Upon a motion made by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Taylor and carried, the request for voluntary demotion was approved effective November 13, 2014. DISCUSS DRAFT CHANGE TO DUTY MANUAL GENERAL ORDERS — EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION AND SHOTSPOTTER POLICY Chief Teachman stated the main consideration with the Eyewitness Identification policy is that an officer not involved in the investigation be in charge of photographs and statements from witnesses. He noted further, that a narrative will be prepared for the officer interviewing witnesses. Chief Teachman stated one leading cause of wrongful identification is witness identification and they are trying to make sure the officer in charge of the interviews is not involved in the investigation. He noted that intentionally or not intentionally, those involved in the investigation can affect the answers of the witnesses. Chief Teachman added he will come back next month with a final form of the policy after the Board reviews the draft and makes any comments. Chief Teachman stated the shot spotter policy is currently in draft form drawn mostly from the manufacturer of the equipment. The policy will determine the procedure for taking the dispatch, and what the Police responsibility is in the field. Chief Teachman stated he gives a lot of credit to Assistant Chief Scott Ruszkowski for tailoring this policy to going to homes in the immediate proximity to the crime m talk to residents and show thetn the Police care about them and make them feel safe. REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 19 2014 79 APPROVE CHANGES TO DUTY MANUAL GENERAL ORDERS — UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS Assistant Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated there were a lot of hours put into this uniform policy to create a more professional appearance. Upon a motion by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Collins, the Uniform Requirement and Regulations policy was approved. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL POLICE. COMMISSIONS — CODE ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE INVESTIGATORS Police Chief Ronald Teachman recommended that a Special Police Commission for Code Enforcement Officers be issued until revoked for Greg McGowen and Tom Anderson and a Fire investigator be issued for Matt Beebe. These Commissions are issued for the purpose of writing citations for Ordinance violations where such violations have fines set by Superior Court Judges. The Commissions will also empower the individuals to enforce the Snow Route and Residential Snow Emergencies and to tow vehicles found to be in violation of these Ordinances. The Commissions for the Code Enforcement Special Police Commissions do not authorize the powers of arrest nor the carrying or use of a. weapon. The Commission for Mr. Beebe for Fire Investigator authorizes the carrying of a weapon, but not the powers of arrest. The aforementioned individuals have met the Commission requirements of the South Bend Police Department. Upon amotion made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Taylor and carried, the Special Police Commissions were approved. ACCEPT AND FILE DONATION TO SOUTH BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT Chief Teachman, Police Department, advised the Board of a generous donation of S 1,000.00 from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weiss to be used for the purchase of a K9 ballistics vest for the Police Department K9 unit. There being no further discussion, the donation was gratefully accepted and filed. FILING OF MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT — OCTOBER 2014 President Vasquez stated that unless there were questions or objections by members of the Board, the statistical analysis report for the month of October 2014, as submitted by the Police Department, would be accepted for filing. Chief Teachman explained that the statistics contain FBI categories that go back forever and don't include shots fired. He noted the month of October had a 4% overall decline, and through their own monitoring at the Police Department, persons shot declined 38% since May 15, 2014. There being no objections, the following report was accepted for filing: ADDITION TO THE AGENDA Attorney Cory Hamel stated he would like to add to the agenda the Police and Fire Department working agreement changes and get the formal agreement to the Board once it is done. He explained it is not quite complete and he is just asking for the Board's tentative approval at this time, and will bring back the complete agreements to sign at their next meeting. APPROVE TENTATIVE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE WORKING AGREEMENT Upon a motion by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Collins and carried, the Fraternal Order of Police Agreement was tentatively approved. FIRE DEPARTMENT OCTOBER OCTOBER YEAR TO PART I OFFENSES 2013 2014 CHANGE DATE 2013 2014 CHANGE 0 1 RAPE RAPE 6 + I 6 14 + 8 ROBBERY 26 10 + 4 74 86 + 12 AGGRAVATED 21 32 + 6 286 255 - 31 ASSAULT 23 + 2 167 198 + 31 BURGLARY RESIDENT 131 88 BURGLARY NON - 43 925 724 - 201 RESIDENT 27 39 + 12 257 246 - ll LARCENY 295 290 - 5 2592 2597 + 5 MOTOR VEHICLE 35 35 THEFT 0 271 258 13 ARSONS '3 2 - 1 24 25 + 1 GRAND TOTAL 544 520 - 24 4602 4403 - 199 ADDITION TO THE AGENDA Attorney Cory Hamel stated he would like to add to the agenda the Police and Fire Department working agreement changes and get the formal agreement to the Board once it is done. He explained it is not quite complete and he is just asking for the Board's tentative approval at this time, and will bring back the complete agreements to sign at their next meeting. APPROVE TENTATIVE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE WORKING AGREEMENT Upon a motion by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Collins and carried, the Fraternal Order of Police Agreement was tentatively approved. FIRE DEPARTMENT REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 19,201 80 FILING OF MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT — OCTOBER 2014 Fire Chief Stephen Cox submitted to the Board the monthly report for October 2014 compiled by the Prevendon/Inspection Bureau of the Fire Department. Ms. Vasquez stated if there were no objections, the Board would accept the report for filing as presented. fll A summary rs as o ows. OCTOBER OCTOBER OCT 2013 2014 STRUCTURE FIRES Property Damage -- Buildings & Contents (Estimates) 120 500.00 5172,300.00 INSPECTION DIVISION 255 Inspections 207 Total Inspections 65 Re -ins ections) (57 Re-Inspections) INVESTIGATION DIVISION 15 12 Investi aHons Investigations I Incendiary 3 3 Accidental Arsons 0 Natural 8 Ilnderermiued ACCEPT AND APPROVE 2015 -2016 HIRING LIST In a letter to the Board, Fire Chief Stephen Cox requested the Board approve the 2015 -2016 hiring list, attached to his letter, for the South Bend Fire Department. Chief Cox noted the applicants on the list endured a lengthy application an d testing period that lasted from January to November 2014. The testing included a written exam, physical agility test, and an oral interview. He noted the evaluation _ and compilation of the test results was performed by an independent agency, the Institute for Public Safety Personnel, Inc. Ms. Vasquez noted there arc ninety -one (91) candidates on the list. Upon a motion made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Collins and carried, the 2015 -2016 hiring list was accepted and approved. APPROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING AGREEMENT Attorney Cory Hamel stated this Fire Department agreement was ratified by the unions, he is asking the Board to approve pending the final document in December. Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Collins and carried, the agreement was tentatively approved. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, upon a motion by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, the meeting adjourned at 10:13 a.m. BOARD PUL3LIQ SAFETY Laura A. Vasquez, P si ent Eddii Miller, Member Luther Daniel REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 19.2014 81 ATTEST: i Lynda 5MNartln, Cl rk