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Home My WebLink About08-24-15 Health and Public Safety HEALTH &PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 24,2015 4:35 P.M. Committee Members Present: Derek Dieter, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Karen White,Valerie Schey Citizen Members Present: Bob Emery(AB)' Other Council Member: Tim Scott, Henry Davis (4:55), Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Gavin Ferlic Others Present: SBPD Chief Ron Teachman, Chief Ruskowski, Chief Horvath, Becky Kaiser Agenda: Update and Continued Discussion of Concerns Related to 911 Call Center(PSAP)—Todd Geer&Commissioner Andy Kostielney Update from Chief Teachman on Increased Violence in the City Derek Dieter,Chair of the Health and Public Safety Committee,with full committee in attendance called the meeting to order at 4:35. On the agenda were two requested updates. The first was a continued discussion of concerns related to the 911 call center. Invited were Commissioner Andy Kostielney and Todd Geer who has been contracted by the County to implement the PSAP consolidation plan. The other was an update on violence in the City from SBPD Chief Ron Teachman answering a variety of Council questions. Valerie Schey led off. She expressed concerns shared by the other councilmembers about speeding in residential areas. She asked whether traffic division of the police department should be resurrected. Chief Teachman said all police officers enforce traffic laws all the time. Given the resources available, Chief Teachman said the traffic division could not be reestablished due to manpower restrictions and the need to assign officers to other required special duties. Karen White's questions focused on the problems of gang violence and of panhandling on City streets. Chief Teachman was glad to respond. His response, I feel, is best summarized in an article published the next day in the South Bend Tribune (Attached). Regarding panhandling the Chief said a difficult distinction has to be made by officers whether it is passive or aggressive panhandling. Passive soliciting,that is being in a public place nearby holding a sign is a constitutional right according to Supreme Court rulings. Aggressive or threating solicitation is a violation and can be cited if witnessed. Dr. Fred Ferlic said,given the importance of the downtown area for commerce and tourism that extra police presence was a good thing. 1 Tim Scott expressed skepticism regarding the need for a separate traffic division. Rather he felt by working with the Public Works Department problem areas in residential neighborhoods could be addresses with signage of bumps and traffic humps engineered to slow traffic. Oliver Davis wondered what the police department was doing to build community relations. Chief Teachman said police officers are routinely scheduled to go to neighborhood organization meetings and other opportunities to meet and engage in discourse with people they meet on their beat. He wants officers to get to know people feeling that familiarity will build trust. Henry Davis said he is tired of hearing about violence. Violence adds stress to a community already overstressed by media reporting. The seeming saturation point has stressed a community to the breaking point even to the point of desensitizing people to violence. Henry said any anti-violence approach needs to include a social, economic and judicial response. Chief Teachman agreed. He felt the challenge was to resensitize people to help people to work with police. Derek Dieter said his concerns were about panhandling and prostitution. The Chief asked Derek to provide a where and when, by observation,these violations occur. Regarding 911—the presenters failed to show for presentation and discussion. Derek said he would schedule another time for the PSAP discussion. Derek adjourned at 5:56 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, I: Di:ter, :irpe Health & Public Safety Committee 2 sEir S Chief add1ëSses gun violence By Erin Blasko inal increase in horni- action needs to be tak- to the violence. South Bend Tribune cides from this time last en to restrict the flow "That's right, they're year," Teachman said. of illegal guns into the desensitized, and they SOUTH BEND — "But when you look at community and to need to be sensitized," Police Chief Ron Teach- the data, we are encour- make it more difficult Teachman said. man addressed the aged that the Group Vi- for violent offenders to To that end, he said, Common Council on olence Initiative is hav- bond out of jail. police make an effort to the issue of gun vio- ing an impact." "What's discouraging, reach out to residents lence Monday in light of He noted that homi- quite honestly, to all of when violence occurs, a recent uptick in homi- cides are "not a very us in law enforcement to establish relation- cides in the city. accurate indicator of ...... is a bond schedule ships and build trust. Ten homicides were violence in a given city," 'that allows people to As a result, he said, committed in the city but rather "a function buy their way out of jail residents have become between January and of marksmanship and after committing a vio- more confident that if mid-June, compared emergency services." lent offense or being ap- they call, police will re- with 17 all of last year, "It's a matter of where prehended with a gun spond. despite efforts to ad- the bullet strikes and illegally," he said. That is reflected in dress gang-related gun how quickly the vic- The community also ShotSpotter data, he violence via a Group Vi- tim is given emergency has a role to play, he said, which shows that olence Initiative. medical care," he said. said. residents report gunfire "We've seen a de- At the same time, the "Every murder, every at a rate of about 33 crease in gang-related county Metro Homicide non-fatal shooting has percent now, compared gun violence," council Unit solves homicides a narrative that preced- with about 11 percent member Karen White, at a rate "way above the ed it where the shooter last June. D-at large, said. "Howev- national average," he indicated his intention "Still anemic, but er, we have experienced said. to shoot ... and no one it's showing progress," a number of homicides "However, solving calls" police, he said. Teachman said. in recent months ... How homicides is not satisfy- Council member Hen- do we address that?" ing," he said. "Prevent- ry Davis Jr., for his part, eblasko @sbtinfo.com "You are correct that ing a homicide is." suggested residents 574-235-6187 we are seeing a nom- To that end, he said, have become "numb" @ErinBlasko John Voorde cl;°° --/CCLItiji Le\CAA' L6 From: Pete Buttigieg Sent: Wednesday,August 26, 2015 1:45 PM To: Derek D. Dieter; DL-City Council Cc: Ron Teachman;James Mueller; Brian Pawlowski; Scott Ford Subject: RE: Panhandling Derek: • I believe Chief Teachman and other Police personnel have appeared before Council committees to discuss public safety issues since our earlier email exchange. If you have more detailed or specific questions about any public safety issue, including that of panhandling,that have not been covered in discussions with Council earlier this summer, I know the Police Department will welcome the opportunity to continue to share information and ideas. Our current strategy in addressing panhandling is consistent with the guidance we have relied on throughout my tenure in office:to be responsive to any issues of harassment or illegal activity,while recognizing the need to respect constitutional and legal rights of all individuals within City limits.Officers are aware of the limitations to which they are subject, and will respect constitutionally protected rights of individuals.They will also intervene when any illegal or harassing activity occurs that calls for a police response. More broadly, of course,the issue of panhandling in this or any city is related to economics, and this is part of why our administration and budget priorities now focus on ensuring that the swift economic growth underway in our City is felt across the full social and geographic range of our community.That is the strategic intention behind efforts ranging from worker training to poverty intervention. For future development,we will need to connect these efforts more deeply to structures that are largely outside the municipal administration but inseparable from these issues, especially those related to mental health and substance abuse. It is my hope that you and your Council colleagues will be interested in joining me in calling for more state and federal resources for mental health in particular, since our community is feeling the effects of a funding trend that has moved in the wrong direction. Panhandling is largely a symptom of much more profound issues, which no city has easily solved but which can be better addressed if we have sufficient resources. Any good strategy is flexible and subject to refinement, so I would be happy to meet to discuss these connected issues further.And once again, any policy ideas or contributions you would like to offer are welcome.Would you like to propose any new approaches to this issue? Best wishes, Pete From: Derek D. Dieter Sent:Wednesday,August 26,2015 12:10 PM To: Pete Buttigieg; DL-City Council Subject: Panhandling Mayor, On July 7th I sent an email requesting your plan for the issue of panhandling around the city. I am checking back in a reasonable time. What strategy have you come up with? 1 Thank you, Derek RE: Panhandling Pete Buttigieg Derek D. Dieter;Ron Teachman;Tim Scott;Karen L. White;Adriana A. Rodriguez;Kathy Farrand;DL-City Council;Brian Pawlowski; Derek, Thanks for getting in touch regarding panhandling,which is certainly a concern in South Bend.Generating a written policy document in three business days is not workable, but I am sure that within a reasonable time frame Chief Teachman can provide a briefing on the department's strategies for dealing with this issue. Ideas and suggestions from Council members will also,as always, be welcome. Best wishes, Pete From: Derek D. Dieter Sent:Tuesday,July 07, 2015 11:31 AM To: Pete Buttigieg; Ron Teachman Cc:Tim Scott; Karen L.White;Adriana A. Rodriguez; Kathy Farrand; DL-City Council Subject: Panhandling Mayor and Chief, The Council would like an update on your plan regarding the problem of panhandling in our city. Members of the Council have received complaints of people on many corners of South Bend, standing with signs, and receiving money for their efforts. Over a dozens sites in South Bend have people on these corners. Also,there is now a Facebook page, Michiana's Panhandler Invasion, complete with location and photos. Last night, some Council members met informally with some business owners about the problem they are currently are having at Ireland and Michigan. Could you outline your plan with a time table on how you are looking to resolve this issue. We would appreciate this information by Friday the 10th of July. Thank you. 2