02-23-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING REPORTS FROM AREA BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS None at this time. NEW BUSINESS None at this time. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR FEBRUARY 23.2015 David Wells, 701 W. Sample St. South Bend, Indiana, started by requesting an additional three minutes from the Council to complete his statement. President, Tim Scott entertained the motion made by Councilmember Dr. Fred Ferlic to grant petitioner an additional three minutes councilmember Henry Davis seconded the motion, the motion carries. Wells states that he would first like to ask the council for an additional three minutes to complete my statement. Thank you for the time you have given me to speak to you tonight. Mr. President, distinguished council members, ladies and gentlemen. My name is David Wells. For the last three years I and others have been embattled in litigation that has not only affected my personal life but my professional career. During this time, I have become the lone city employee still fighting this ongoing relentless effort by this body to listen to private conversations that were ruled in a federal court to be completely illegal. It is important to note here for all to understand, that we as plaintiffs have taken great steps in trying to alleviate much of the financial burden and continued embarrassment this situation has generated in our community. It has damaged not only our reputation as a community but our potential for greater economic development. As plaintiffs, we have dismissed many law suits that pertain to the tapes controversy in order to end this damaging issue. For example: We have dismissed you, the South Bend Common Council, Captain Daryl Boykins, Former Communications Director Karen DePaepe and her attorney Scott Duerring. We have settled our litigation with the city all in an effort to try and stop this ongoing drama which can have no winners. Still, this body of elected officials continues to pursue this matter to apparently no financial end. Even after this much anticipated and very expensive August 2014 trial, you continue to issue subpoenas. The continued efforts to now hear recordings from a hard drive that has eleven months of stored conservations from potentially hundreds of citizens and police officers in nothing more than a witch hunt of financial irresponsibility to simply satisfy mere curiosity. The amount of tax payer dollars spent on such a task can never be justified by this body given the dollars spent to date. You should know that I am a South Bend native and second generation Police Officer here. I have served this community for more than twenty years with distinction. Neither I nor Tim Corbett, Steve Richmond or Brian Young have ever been reprimanded for any conduct unbecoming a police officer or that is contrary to the Police Department's duty manual. We have all received numerous letters of commendation and awards and have risked our lives for the people of this community more than we care to count. In, fact as former swat officers, I, Tim Corbett and Brian Young have served shoulder to shoulder with the council's own Vice President on the most dangerous police operations and high risk drug warrants. I and Tim Corbett continue to work with a team of dedicated police officers who solve murders and violent crimes in this community at an exceptionally high success rate. As Commander of the Special Victims Unit, Brian Young works the most heinous crimes ever committed against women and children. And finally, as Assistant Warden for the Sheriff's Department, Steve Richmond has the dangerous job of maintaining inmates who have been accused and convicted of many of those terrible crimes. We are dedicated public servants for the people of this community which we care deeply for. These continued efforts by this body to hear what someone may or may not said about someone else are exhausting for everyone. Having a approached the Department of Justice ourselves and having asked the FBI for an investigation ourselves into the illegal wiretapping practices at the police department, we are convinced that had any of the allegations against us of illegal activity