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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 4, 1972
<br />UNFINISHED BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
<br />Chief Seals gave a breakdown on burglary figures, showing there were 688 commercial burglaries
<br />in 1972 and 742 in 1971 and that there were 1072 residential burglaries in 1972 and 709 in 1971.
<br />He said that some commercial burglaries can be prevented but residential burglaries are next
<br />to impossible to prevent. Chief Seals pointed out that much crime, rape, murder and burglary
<br />is a one on one situation which occurs behind closed doors.
<br />The monetary loss in Part I crimes has decreased from $1,555,731 in 1971 to $1,527,745 in 1972.
<br />Chief Seals cited many other duties of the Police Department and said that 1,310,401 miles were
<br />patrolled by police officers to date this year. Vice squad arrests for prostitution, gambling,
<br />liquor violations and enforcement of narcotic laws have greatly increased in 1972.
<br />The traffic bureau issued 5983 traffic tickets, 705 citations for no driver's license, 80
<br />warnings, and made 5198 arrests. In addition, the Meter Maids issued 51,285 parking violation,
<br />tickets. Chief Seals gave the man hours involved in recruit, firearm and in- service training
<br />for police personnel in the South Bend Police Academy and said the academy is working toward
<br />accreditation.
<br />The Chief said that policemen are also shot at and attacked and that they cry when old people
<br />are beaten or robbed or homes vandalized. He said rumor is still the worst counter agent to
<br />order and to law. He said that some of the loudest critics of the Police Department have
<br />questionable backgrounds.
<br />There is much dissatisfaction with the police, some valid and some not valid. There have been
<br />isolated cases of young policemen being discourteous to citizens but Chief Seals said that 70
<br />to 80% of the men on the department have less than five years of experience. They are some of
<br />the finest young men in the community but must have time to learn. He said there is a great
<br />need for more policemen because South Bend is the hub or an urban area of 245,045 residents.
<br />Chief Seals said that the Felony Squad has a fine record and that a bomb disposal unit has been
<br />established. He urged citizens to take advantage of Project MARC, whereby possessions may be
<br />marked with the owner's social security number. This has resulted in recovery of many stolen
<br />items. Chief Seals said that the criminal justice system involves law enforcement, prosecution
<br />and the judicial system. He said that as long as doubt exists about the work of the Police
<br />Department, questions must be answered, but the Department needs the total support of the
<br />community.
<br />Chief Seals then said that there were two other speakers to make a presentation at this time, on
<br />behalf of the Administration. Councilman Newburn said he felt the citizens should be allowed to
<br />speak now. Mayor Jerry J. Miller said that the Council had asked for this report on the Police
<br />Department and that the administration had asked Mr. Gallagher of the Criminal Justice Department
<br />and Mr. °Bergwall of the Youth Service Bureau to prepare reports to be given this evening.
<br />Councilman Nemeth said that the call to tonight's meeting was for the Police Chief only. Council.
<br />man Szymkowiak made a motion that the citizens be allowed to speak first and then the two
<br />gentlemen would be heard later. Councilman Newburn seconded the motion. Council President Peter
<br />J. Nemeth asked for a show of hands on the motion and it carried by a vote of eight ayes, one
<br />nay (Councilman Taylor).
<br />Mrs. Barbara Vaszari, 830 S. Falcon Street, thanked the Council and Chief Seals. She said she
<br />was not here to accuse the police of not doing their job. She said there are inadequacies in the
<br />system and the police department is one place to start. She said that she meant her criticism to
<br />be constructive. She commented that the problem might be with the attorneys, prosecutors and
<br />judges. She feels that the biggest problem is with juvenile crime and said that parents and
<br />schools should cooperate with the police in this area.
<br />Mr. Larry Taylor, of the Park - Jefferson Apartments, spoke on a robbery that occurred in his home
<br />and said the comment was made that the burglar probably robbed him to pay the bondsman for a
<br />prior offense. He said that part of the crime problem today is the result of Supreme Court
<br />decisions such as the Miranda decision and said that the local court system is ineffective. He
<br />warned that if the situation is not changed, the result might be a national police force. He
<br />called for citizen support of our Police Department.
<br />Mrs. Lucianne Fidler, 1108 Lawrence Street, said that the problem might be a manpower shortage
<br />and asked whether aides could be hired for traffic and other duties, freeing the regular police
<br />officers for more vital work. Mr. Leo Wallisch, 446 LaPorte Avenue, thanked the Police Chief for
<br />his report. He said it is demoralizing to him to have mobs descend on the police station to
<br />obstruct justice. He asked that the punishment be made to fit the crime and said the police
<br />should be given more power. He also feels that the issue of capital punishment should be put on
<br />a referendum in the next state election.
<br />Mrs. Elsie Bright, 3717 W. Ford Street, said that she has a police radio in her home and from the
<br />large number of dispatches each day she feels we do need more police. She cited examples of
<br />police not arresting people because of invasion of privacy.
<br />Mr. Charles Menyhart, 54760 Mayflower Road, said that Project MARC is a good idea but said that
<br />the three -, four -, and five -time offenders should be marked so that the citizens will know who
<br />they are.
<br />Mr. Arthur Langel, 4403 Huron Street, said that the responsibility rests upon the citizens but
<br />said it is futile to try to get to the establishment running this city and country as they are
<br />not interested in the average citizen. He said he has written to President Nixon and Ralph
<br />Nader and has attempted to get six attorneys to represent him in a court suit against the city,
<br />state and federal government for loss of property and loss of his livlihood but he'said he
<br />received no help.
<br />Mrs. Louise Rozek, 624 N. Birdsell Street, asked if there was a curfew in South Bend and if so,
<br />why it was not enforced. Chief Seals answered that there is a curfew ordinance but they have
<br />run into legal problems with enforcement of the curfew and it is now in the hands of the Legal
<br />Department. Mrs. Rozek said she is concerned about vandalism and robberies by juveniles and said
<br />many times the offender gets off with no punishment and is released. She cited cases where a
<br />crime was observed and Crime Alert was called and no report of the incident was ever made to the
<br />Police Department. She asked if the Police Department looks the other way at times and mentioned
<br />the area at the corner of Washington and Walnut Streets, where people are observed drinking and
<br />gambling during the daylight hours in vacant lots but nothing is done.
<br />1972
<br />1971
<br />Murder
<br />12
<br />17
<br />Rape
<br />28
<br />23
<br />Robbery
<br />383
<br />363
<br />Aggravated Assault
<br />129
<br />108
<br />Burglary
<br />1761
<br />1451
<br />Larceny
<br />4260
<br />3877
<br />Auto Theft
<br />908
<br />689
<br />7486
<br />6534 An increase of 952
<br />Chief Seals gave a breakdown on burglary figures, showing there were 688 commercial burglaries
<br />in 1972 and 742 in 1971 and that there were 1072 residential burglaries in 1972 and 709 in 1971.
<br />He said that some commercial burglaries can be prevented but residential burglaries are next
<br />to impossible to prevent. Chief Seals pointed out that much crime, rape, murder and burglary
<br />is a one on one situation which occurs behind closed doors.
<br />The monetary loss in Part I crimes has decreased from $1,555,731 in 1971 to $1,527,745 in 1972.
<br />Chief Seals cited many other duties of the Police Department and said that 1,310,401 miles were
<br />patrolled by police officers to date this year. Vice squad arrests for prostitution, gambling,
<br />liquor violations and enforcement of narcotic laws have greatly increased in 1972.
<br />The traffic bureau issued 5983 traffic tickets, 705 citations for no driver's license, 80
<br />warnings, and made 5198 arrests. In addition, the Meter Maids issued 51,285 parking violation,
<br />tickets. Chief Seals gave the man hours involved in recruit, firearm and in- service training
<br />for police personnel in the South Bend Police Academy and said the academy is working toward
<br />accreditation.
<br />The Chief said that policemen are also shot at and attacked and that they cry when old people
<br />are beaten or robbed or homes vandalized. He said rumor is still the worst counter agent to
<br />order and to law. He said that some of the loudest critics of the Police Department have
<br />questionable backgrounds.
<br />There is much dissatisfaction with the police, some valid and some not valid. There have been
<br />isolated cases of young policemen being discourteous to citizens but Chief Seals said that 70
<br />to 80% of the men on the department have less than five years of experience. They are some of
<br />the finest young men in the community but must have time to learn. He said there is a great
<br />need for more policemen because South Bend is the hub or an urban area of 245,045 residents.
<br />Chief Seals said that the Felony Squad has a fine record and that a bomb disposal unit has been
<br />established. He urged citizens to take advantage of Project MARC, whereby possessions may be
<br />marked with the owner's social security number. This has resulted in recovery of many stolen
<br />items. Chief Seals said that the criminal justice system involves law enforcement, prosecution
<br />and the judicial system. He said that as long as doubt exists about the work of the Police
<br />Department, questions must be answered, but the Department needs the total support of the
<br />community.
<br />Chief Seals then said that there were two other speakers to make a presentation at this time, on
<br />behalf of the Administration. Councilman Newburn said he felt the citizens should be allowed to
<br />speak now. Mayor Jerry J. Miller said that the Council had asked for this report on the Police
<br />Department and that the administration had asked Mr. Gallagher of the Criminal Justice Department
<br />and Mr. °Bergwall of the Youth Service Bureau to prepare reports to be given this evening.
<br />Councilman Nemeth said that the call to tonight's meeting was for the Police Chief only. Council.
<br />man Szymkowiak made a motion that the citizens be allowed to speak first and then the two
<br />gentlemen would be heard later. Councilman Newburn seconded the motion. Council President Peter
<br />J. Nemeth asked for a show of hands on the motion and it carried by a vote of eight ayes, one
<br />nay (Councilman Taylor).
<br />Mrs. Barbara Vaszari, 830 S. Falcon Street, thanked the Council and Chief Seals. She said she
<br />was not here to accuse the police of not doing their job. She said there are inadequacies in the
<br />system and the police department is one place to start. She said that she meant her criticism to
<br />be constructive. She commented that the problem might be with the attorneys, prosecutors and
<br />judges. She feels that the biggest problem is with juvenile crime and said that parents and
<br />schools should cooperate with the police in this area.
<br />Mr. Larry Taylor, of the Park - Jefferson Apartments, spoke on a robbery that occurred in his home
<br />and said the comment was made that the burglar probably robbed him to pay the bondsman for a
<br />prior offense. He said that part of the crime problem today is the result of Supreme Court
<br />decisions such as the Miranda decision and said that the local court system is ineffective. He
<br />warned that if the situation is not changed, the result might be a national police force. He
<br />called for citizen support of our Police Department.
<br />Mrs. Lucianne Fidler, 1108 Lawrence Street, said that the problem might be a manpower shortage
<br />and asked whether aides could be hired for traffic and other duties, freeing the regular police
<br />officers for more vital work. Mr. Leo Wallisch, 446 LaPorte Avenue, thanked the Police Chief for
<br />his report. He said it is demoralizing to him to have mobs descend on the police station to
<br />obstruct justice. He asked that the punishment be made to fit the crime and said the police
<br />should be given more power. He also feels that the issue of capital punishment should be put on
<br />a referendum in the next state election.
<br />Mrs. Elsie Bright, 3717 W. Ford Street, said that she has a police radio in her home and from the
<br />large number of dispatches each day she feels we do need more police. She cited examples of
<br />police not arresting people because of invasion of privacy.
<br />Mr. Charles Menyhart, 54760 Mayflower Road, said that Project MARC is a good idea but said that
<br />the three -, four -, and five -time offenders should be marked so that the citizens will know who
<br />they are.
<br />Mr. Arthur Langel, 4403 Huron Street, said that the responsibility rests upon the citizens but
<br />said it is futile to try to get to the establishment running this city and country as they are
<br />not interested in the average citizen. He said he has written to President Nixon and Ralph
<br />Nader and has attempted to get six attorneys to represent him in a court suit against the city,
<br />state and federal government for loss of property and loss of his livlihood but he'said he
<br />received no help.
<br />Mrs. Louise Rozek, 624 N. Birdsell Street, asked if there was a curfew in South Bend and if so,
<br />why it was not enforced. Chief Seals answered that there is a curfew ordinance but they have
<br />run into legal problems with enforcement of the curfew and it is now in the hands of the Legal
<br />Department. Mrs. Rozek said she is concerned about vandalism and robberies by juveniles and said
<br />many times the offender gets off with no punishment and is released. She cited cases where a
<br />crime was observed and Crime Alert was called and no report of the incident was ever made to the
<br />Police Department. She asked if the Police Department looks the other way at times and mentioned
<br />the area at the corner of Washington and Walnut Streets, where people are observed drinking and
<br />gambling during the daylight hours in vacant lots but nothing is done.
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