12-04-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 4, 1972 ORDINANCES, FIRST READING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,500.00 FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY FUND TO ACCOUNT MVH 64 "BENEFIT TRUST LIFE INSURANCE ", AN ACCOUNT WITHIN THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY FUND. This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Taylor made a motion that the ordinance be set for public hearing and second reading on December 11, 1972, seconded by Councilman Horvath. Motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY FUND TO MVH 13 "EXTRA AND OVERTIME" AN ACCOUNT WITHIN THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Parent made a motion that the ordinance be set for public hearing and second reading on December 11, 1972, seconded by Councilman Taylor. Motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $25,000.00 FROM THE LOCAL ROAD AND STREET FUND TO THE ACCOUNT "SERVICES CONTRACTUAL ", WITHIN THE LOCAL ROAD AND STREET FUND, °FOR USE IN ACQUIRING RIGHT -OF -WAY FOR PROJECT R & S 47. This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Kopczynski moved that the ordinance be set for public hearing and second reading on December 11, 1972,. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and it carried. Members of the Council called for a short recess at 9:45 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:58 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Police Chief Robert W. Seals gave a report on the Police Department for the past eleven months, including crime statistics. Chief Seals thanked the Council for the invitation to appear at the meeting to discuss this very controversial matter. He said that contrary to stated opinions people might hear, this presentation will be based on fact. He said the police of this city are not responsible for the crime rate. They deal with detection and apprehension. He said that feelings of citizen dismay, frustration, fear and anger are understandable. He said an increase in population is the root cause of an increasing crime rate. He gave the following figures for the number of Part I crimes committed in South Bend: 1962 3,164 1963 4,259 1964 4,825 1965 4,515 1966 4,930 1967 6,971 1968 7,087 1969 7,079 1970 8,862 1971 7,889 In answer to a question by Councilman Nemeth, Chief Seals explained that Part I crimes are homicide, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny and auto theft. Chief Seals said the sudden rise in the totals after 1969 was the result of changes in reporting methods and said that the crime existed before but, especially in poor areas, was never reported. He said the areas of crime have been in our community for many years. Chief Seals then displayed a chart showing the national crime index which listed the national average up'?83% with South Bend up 60 %. The national level clearance rate has dropped 19% and South Bend's clearance rate has dropped 7 %. Chief Seals said that, rumor and suspicion to the contrary, the South Bend Police Department's performance is far better than the average department across the country. He then displayed a chart showing the number of crimes cleared by arrest. National Average South Bend Murder 84% 88% Manslaughter 83% 780% Rape -- 55%, 31% Aggravated Assault 66% 53% Robbery. 27% 10% Burglary 190/ 14% Larceny 19.0 15% Auto Theft 16% 16% Chief Seals said he did not appear here tonight with instructions from the Mayor. He said the administration recognized that you don't hire a lumberjack to head the downtown renewal program. You hire a policeman to head the Police Department. He said that when doubt of the police and their credibility arises, questions must be answered. The national average recommends that there should be 1.8 police officers per 1000 inhabitants. South Bend is one of the few cities of its size which has not exceeded that ratio. South Bend has a population of 125,000 and 231 police officers. For cities in South Bend's category, 1.0 policemen is considered low, 21 is average, and 4.5 is high. South Bend has 1.8 policemen for each 1000 people. The Department is fighting the battle against crime without enough men. Chief Seals then gave the following figures for South Bend for Octdber, 1972 and the comparable figures for 1971: