01-28-74 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 28, 1974 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) traffic enforcement was ordered. He stated that foot traffic was checked out and pressure placed on the prostitutes and pimps. He felt that, within five weeks' time, the location of South Michig Street had greatly benefited from the foot patrol. He stated that, during the holidays, there were no armed robberies, disorderly drunks, etc. when the patrol was working. The same men worked 12 -16 hours a day and several new street officers were used. He felt that, by the men working a few hours, then off a few hours, and coming back on the foot patrol the same day, the preventive aspect had been a success. He stated that the officers have been looking forward to coming to work and doing their job. Tactical forces had been successful in the heroin area and street units were provided. He talked about an incident at Notre Dame during a recent basketball game where the police had helped and the assistance given after the United Warehouse fire in Roseland. Capta Friend felt that the best community program was a "zero crime rate ". He was hopeful that the pro- gram could be utilized seven nights a week. He felt time was needed to get the program going and it would keep improving the crime rate. Chief Urban spoke on the arrests the overtime foot patrol had been involved in. He indicated that the program had taken place over a seven -month period. He stated that he had received a letter from the Council requesting certain information, and he would have that information for them in the very near future. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered why the rep( had not been made available to the public previously. Chief Urban indicated that the Council had only requested the information a couple weeks ago. Miss Guthrie stated that the Mayor had indicat( that this information was available. She again asked why the information had not been made available at that time. Mrs. Lee Swan, 2022 Swygart, asked if the foot patrol was, at present, in operation, and Chief Urban indicated that it was not. He explained that, at the end of the year, the balances of revenue sharing funds reverted back to the revenue sharing trust account. The reason for the balance at the end of the year was that, when the program was initially started there had been a waiting period because approval was required from the State Board of Accounts. Al present, there were no funds available for the program. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy City Controller, indicated that Chief Urban was correct and that the new ordinance was being submitted for 1974 to carry on the program. He stated that the balance at the end of 1973 would not have carried the department through 1974. Mrs. Swan wondered if the balance would be available in 1974. Mr. Lantz stated that all the money reverted back and it must all be re- appropriated again. He stated that a portion of the proposed ordinance represented the balance at the end of the year. Mrs. Swan wondered about the advantage of motorizing the foot patrol in the winter months. Chief Urban indicated that, in inclement weather, the men were put in cars. He stated that the men stayed in a certain census tract where there was a high crime rate. Mrs. Swan wondered if the amount was the same, and Chief Urban indicated that 50a of the men walked and 50o were motorized. Mrs. Swan asked if there was a possibility of an increase in the squad cars because the foot patrol had utilized the cars. Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, President of the St. Joseph County Fair Tax Association, wondered about the amount that reverted back into the revenue sharing trust fund at the end of the year. It was indicated that $65,282 was spent and $27,218 reverted back. Mrs. Mutzl stated that complaints had been received that the foot patrol had utilized cars. She wondered if foot patrols could be afforded out of the regular city budget. Chief Urban indicated that the only foot patrol taken out of the budget was the patrol in the downtown area which consisted of six females during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the males taking over from 6:OO p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Chie: Urban stated that there are approximately two teams walking at all times. Mr. Conrad Damian, 718 Broadway, asked if the foot patrol was functioning on the Southeast side. Captain Friend stated that the officers are dispatched and work in two or four man teams. He cited an instance in the Southeast area where every call was responded to in teams of eight men and these eight men were al: on foot and not in cars. Mr. Damian felt the Southeast side should be able to see the value of th( foot patrol. He indicated that a person involved in the program had stated that the men did not volunteer for duty in the Southeast side because they were afraid. Mr. James Russell, 1517 Fremont asked about the foot patrol in the Washington Street area. He wondered about the arrests made in 1973. Chief Urban indicated that there were 12 major arrests. Mr. Russell wondered if the prograr was effective. He talked about the policemen, indicating that, in uniform, the patrols were spotted many blocks away. He felt that communication with the public was the problem. He felt th( city was not concerned about the crime situation. Councilman Newburn stated that the city was concerned about the problem. He wondered what suggestions Mr. Russell had-to improve the crime situation. Mr. Russell felt that a man should be able to communicate with the public. He also stated that he felt the drug program was a failure. Councilman Parent indicated that the Public Safety Committee had met and considered the revenue sharing ordinances. He indicated that the committee recommended that the ordinances for the Public Safety Department be. passed. He mentionec that additional information had been requested by the committee and the information was obtained. He stated that the committee recommended approval of the ordinances because there seems to have been some kind of influence on the crime rate because of the foot patrol. He indicated that it wa: felt the program should be continued because it was still in the new stages being only six months old. He also stated that, every hour that an officer works overtime, the cost results are much less than an hour of time in a regular 40 -hour work week. Councilman Kopczynski referred to the Model Cities area and the foot patrol, indicating that the Southeast area was not mentioned in the report submitted to the Council. He cited another instance when his place of business had been broken into, indicating that it happened three times in eight months. At one time, he apprehended the juveniles himself. He wondered about this, and Councilman Newburn indicated that the matter at hand was the revenue sharing ordinance for the foot patrol. Councilman Miller indicated that $34,192.50 was turned back into the revenue sharing account.at the end of the year, according to the printout he had. Mr. Lantz stated that the printout Councilman Miller had was not an updated copy. Councilman Miller wondered about the figures on the salaries. He indicated that he under- stood that the program was to be continued temporarily. He wondered why this could not have been used out of the regular city budget. Chief Urban indicated that the department must operate according to the budget and line items. During the first three weeks of 1974, the program had beer run out of another account. Then it had been decided to discontinue the program until the revenue sharing funds were available and approved. Councilman Miller talked about the apprehensions under the program and wondered if they were taken to prosecution. Chief Urban indicated that all person: were prosecuted. Councilman Miller asked if the City of South Bend was providing police protection to Notre Dame, and Chief Urban indicated that the city provided coverage for the Northeast side of the city. Councilman Serge indicated that the Council was very concerned about the crime problem. He felt the problem had to do with the courts and judges, and the Police Department was being hampered by this. Council President Nemeth expressed concern-about making decisions and not receiving pertinent facts. He wondered about surveys made for various areas of the foot patrols and the effects on the crime situation. Chief Urban indicated that this was quite extensive. He stated that, when crime is moved from one area, the officers advance to another area. He referred