02-26-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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' V_ FEBRUARY-2-6-,- • REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) Street dividing the city to the east and west into halves. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that it would be possible for a police car to be stalled by a train on the north and south, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that the police cars are not immune to passenger trains and that they can only get the cars back to the designated place as soon as possible. He cited an example of the excellent participation in an accident that took place on February 23 on Lincolnway. Councilman Kopczynski felt that, at all times, at least one patrol car should be stationed in the area bounded by the tracks on all sides. Mr. Gallagher stated that there is a car in that area; however, there are times when these cars must be withdrawn. Councilman Parent asked if Mr. Gallagher felt that the complaints voiced by Mr. Kwieran were well taken care of by the Police Department. Mr. Gallagher answered by saying that the Police Department can only respond as soon as it is possible to do so. He mentioned again, that one occasion the patrol car was late in arriving at the Kwieran home only because of a fight call received, and that the patrol car arriv about 28 minutes late. He felt that the department has responded reasonably fast to the calls. Councilman Serge indicated that there are 120,000 people living in South Bend, 41,000 homes and 5,000 persons per officer. There are also 1,700 homes per officer. He indicated that there are 12 units on the street during the day and in the evening and early morning there are 18 units on the street. He further indicated that there are 123 corporals and privates, and he felt the city needed more officers. He cited recent incidents of the rape of an elderly woman by teenagers and the robbery of an elderly man who was only carrying 40 cents in his pocket. Mr. Gallagher indicated that, in view of the criticism the Police Department has taken lately, he expressed the desire to talk further to the audience and Council. He spoke briefly on Part I Offenses which consist of murder, rape, assault, burglery, robbery, larceny and auto theft. He presented a chart showing the percentage of crime in 1970, as follows: murders, 29 %; auto thefts, 19 %; assault, 17 %; robberies, 22 %; larceny, 17 %; rape cases, 108 %; and burgleries, 55 %. He stressed the fact that there were more Part I Offenses in 1970 than in 1972. In 1970, burgleries went up 55 %, auto thefts went up 23% and larceny went up 9 %. He mentioned that, if we would com- pare the crime rate in 1970 with the crime rate in 1972, there would be a drop of 1 %. He asked where all the voices of criticism were in 1970. Mr. Gallagher indicated that he would like to ask the community to define the type of roll for its policemen. He mentioned that 50% of the calls coming into the Police Department are for service calls, such as a cat up a tree, someone locked out of his house, etc. If the greater part of the manpower takes care of these matters, it is expected that the Police Department will not be at full force in fighting crime. He asked if the citizens would rather have police protection or officers to take care of the service calls. Mr. Gallagher then went on to list projects undertaken by his department in the preceding quarter, as follows: greater utilization of the computer center; a study initiated at Indiana University of South Bend of the Police Department; revamping of patrol areas based on evaluation of high crime areas; restructure of the cadet program; meetings with all superior officers, riding in the patrol cars, etc; commendation of service; study of all traffic reports, crimes reported, etc; and investigations of the bureau and its sections. He then stressed the objectives for the future, as follows: issuance of an impact plan to be started approximately April 1; drafting of a crime prevention ordinance for residences; participation of two officers to organize a Crime Prevention Bureau; move toward a school - police liaison; initiation of a policy of team policing; probation officer in Juvenile Aid Bureau; recruitment of 264 officers on the streets by December 1; multi - agency Intelligence Unit; expansion of Police Academy; establishment of a civilian fiscal officer for the Police Department; and a civilian assistant director for the computer center. He indicated that the city cannot go forward by looking out the rearview window. He felt the statistics should be buried and the Police Department should be given some backing. All of the citizens are attempting to live a life that is known for happiness and peace and all the citizens are bound together by more than geographic proximity. He mentioned that other cities, as well as South Bend, are threatened by crime. He indicated that there are no simple solutions because modern cities are not simple places, and he felt that a solution that respects diversity should be found. There are those individuals within the community who must be given the burden of enforcing the laws and regulations, and it is a thankless job. He indicated that the men on the police force have been subject to criticism in the past few months and they have not given up. Many of these men would gladly work 30 days straight in order to combat crime but they also need the help of the citizens. He asked the citizens to help by forgetting the criticism and commendinil the force, thereby giving them encouragement and backing. The audience and Council indicated this by applauding. Councilman Szymkowiak mentioned that he had recently talked with Mr. Gallagher about the present curfew law, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that the Police Department and City Attorney had gone over the law, and it was his opinion and understanding that the state law is vaguely worded and hard to enforce. There is a curfew provided for six nights a week varying in time depending on the particular night of the week. The ordinance only provides the power to the police to pick up juveniles and refer them to the probation officer on the third occasion. He felt this ordinance was unenforceable. He mentioned that, if the Council wished, the present ordinance could be amended. Councilman Szymkowiak asked about the Chicago ordinance on curfew times, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that he had only checked the ordinance in the City of South Bend at Mr. Szymkowiak's request. He mentioned that the radio stations do announce the curfew time; however, it is still unenforceable. Councilman Szymkowiak asked Mr. Gallagher to try and obtain a copy of the curfew ordinance in effect in Chicago, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that he would try. Councilman Miller asked Mr. Gallagher to provide the Council with a copy of the report he had just given, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that he only had notes and would have to write it up. He also mentioned that the Notre Dame Survey conducted showed that 79% of the people contacted felt they had received adequate service from the Police Department; 70% felt their calls were answered with- in a reasonable time; 40% felt their complaints could have been handled over the telephone; and 10% felt that the time answered was unreasonable. Councilman Kopczynski felt the Police Department should be commended. Mr. Gallagher again mentioned that, if the Police Department could be drawn away from the so- called service calls, they could fight crime at 100 %. He also felt the policemen would then feel better because they would be doing a professional law enforce- ment job. Councilman Kopczynski brought up the radar cars patroling areas for considerable amounts of time. He felt that speeding should be stopped and he realized that the city was short of officers, but he felt the city should utilize the time better than it has in the past. Mr. Gallagher answered by indicating that, if the city was going to operate a practicable Department of Public Safety, concern must be shown for speeders because more people are killed in automobile accidents than murders. He cited an incident regarding a speeding violation which could have proved very serious if the radar car had not been in the area, and he felt that speeding was a