City of Bloomington, Indiana Board of Public Safety, 18 Aug 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Board of Public Safety, August 18, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7479

A

Okay, I'm going I'm susan yun and I'm going to call to order.

A

The board of public safety, our regular meeting.

A

It's tuesday august 18 2020.. um We have members rafi hassan.

A

And maquiva reece here and luis fuentes, roar and kimberly.

A

Gray are absent. um First on the agenda is the approval.

A

Of minutes from the last meeting.

A

If anyone would like to make a motion.

B

Rafi hassan, a motion that we move to approve.

B

The minutes from july 21st 2020.

C

Second, I was looking up the date as well. My second.

A

um Do we want to take the role as we have been in the past, where.

A

Nicole calls out the name.

D

E

Yeah, I'm happy to do that. um Susan, uh yes, maquiba.

F

Yes, rafi, yes,.

A

Minutes are approved, we'll move on to fire department, business.

A

In the report on monthly statistics and.

A

A

Jamie you need to unmute.

G

Okay, can you hear me now, okay, operational statistics.

G

Looks like 45 percent, uh where we rescue ems.

G

um The call volume is a little below where we were at last.

G

Year, which is really surprising, most departments are.

G

Down anywhere from 30 to 40 percent, so our run total. Our run volume has.

G

Stayed fairly steady during this code pandemic.

G

We do expect going forward with the students coming back.

G

We do expect a sharp spike you can see in august and september. We do expect a.

G

Sharp spike going to campus calls.

G

I'll move on to response time and goals and we are at 97.

G

Within eight minutes and uh 81 within four minutes, our goal is 98.

G

Of the time uh or 98 of the time within eight minutes, we're almost there.

G

And ninety percent of time within 240 seconds or.

G

Four minutes this is uh there's, there's several factors in that, but.

G

One of the biggest factors, I think is, is a road construction right now, all around.

G

The city limits that with a large apparatus, is making it.

G

Difficult at times to get to places I'll move on.

G

To prevention and public engagement.

G

Statistics looks like we are way behind.

G

At ten percent of our inspection goals and and public engagement.

G

We're doing the best we can, I think, on facebook to.

G

uh Use social media and online platforms to to.

G

Gain uh public engagement, but um obviously face-to-face which is.

G

Something that we do uh fairly well with stations.

G

Isn't happening and probably not for some time.

G

um The inspections are obviously uh slow as well. We have started those.

G

Inspections back uh as.

G

Things have been.

G

I'm sorry uh we haven't started. We have started those inspections back.

G

um And uh uh it's fairly slow right now, but we're.

G

Getting back with it, so training education.

G

uh What we have right there is is target solutions, and that is an.

G

Online software program uh that our our.

G

Department has utilized uh for the last year.

G

Really can't get out and do a lot of training right now.

G

uh Letters, appreciation and accommodation. I do apologize.

G

I cannot read that.

G

G

I'm sorry yeah. I can't read that. Thank you. Everyone.

B

Something to see you working and it appears to be.

B

Yeah, uh juliana, that's all that's all! I can read.

B

Yeah, uh you can get the journal business if you.

G

Like susan, okay, general business, uh we're down.

G

For personnel um we have, uh we just had a hiring process with.

G

Applications uh we had 222 applicants confirmed.

G

The test date is set for saturday saturday september 12th, at.

G

Bloomington high school south and bloomington high school north.

G

Two test times at each high school to stay within accordance with the.

G

Mandate of less than 50 people at each place, so the good news is.

G

Is that we are able to test.

G

And the bad news is, the kids obviously aren't.

G

In school, but we're able to utilize uh their schools for the testing.

G

So um and then I can get to personnel if you like,.

B

Deputy chief rachelle is: is it a written exam.

B

Or is it a computer based test, it's a written exam. We looked into.

G

An online platform uh or format- and it's just right now, is not a viable.

G

Option uh for us um I talked to uh mr true and.

G

Mr debro, and they were kind enough to give us.

G

Testing spots there in the cafeteria uh we'll be doing social distancing.

G

Along with that, but also taking temperatures.

G

And um making sure that they feel well and um so we're looking forward to it.

G

uh That's a pretty nice number for just. uh I think the application process.

G

Was about three weeks so we're happy about having over 200.

G

Folks want to be firefighters.

G

Personnel, we are we're down uh four personnel.

G

We have two out sick and no disciplinary issues at this time to.

G

G

And then, as far as big purchases, I think you'll see.

G

Some gear, washers or gear extractors for our firefighters.

G

uh That um the uh that's for cancer protection, it's a.

G

Special gear, washer, they're, they're, probably 12,.

G

Or 1500 pounds they are about twenty thousand dollars.

G

uh A piece we have two already with the warehouse uh we're making that.

G

Central uh sterilizing wash bay and and then cancer.

G

Protocol warehouse to keep our people safe.

G

So you'll see that about twenty thousand dollars and then we're gonna. The the.

G

Next month, or so, we're going to look at purchasing a large number of fire gear.

G

For our firefighters, I think our allotment this year is about.

G

25 sets and they're about three thousand dollars: apiece.

G

That's all I have thank you, we'll move on to.

A

The new business, which is this verbal certification of the payroll.

A

Can the assistant chiefs agree or say yes, yes,.

A

Yes, okay and then chris I wanted to. I don't know if we need to add this to.

A

The agenda, the new meeting dates, or can we just do that offline? um I think it's okay to discuss it for now,.

D

Just to see kind of take a straw poll and see what others.

D

Would like to do, I think what we should try to do is we haven't had a full.

D

A full board meeting with all five members in a while. I was kind of hoping.

D

What we might be able to accomplish is having a full.

D

Five members at the next meeting to to vote on.

D

Changing the the date and time and then make it official the next.

A

Meeting we'd have to meet it. The new time to get is that right.

D

Well then, let's uh let these three, we know what.

D

I think luis and kim weighed in on what they can do.

D

Right yeah, so I would recommend then go ahead and having discussion now to find.

D

A date and time that works go ahead and make it official today and.

D

We'll move forward with that as the new uh meeting time and.

D

Date: okay, um it sounded like wednesday.

A

Evening the third wednesday was going to work for kim and luis and me, and I didn't hear.

A

Any objections from rafi or maquiva.

A

Those dates right now are september, 16th october 21st november 18th.

A

And december 16th for the rest of this calendar year.

A

Better work, that'll work for me and six o'clock is still the time.

A

Because kim is, um she may be if she goes back to work.

A

Physically she'll be in indianapolis, can you repeat the dates again, the.

B

Beginning with november oh november november, 18.

A

And december 16th.

B

That's fine for me: okay um yeah! We didn't want to go forward with our.

A

Current dates, because luis is teaching a course at this time.

A

For the whole fall semester, so do we need a motion? Does this have to.

B

Be something well: no, we don't have them we're gonna vote on.

A

It next time, even though I I would go ahead and vote on it now, you.

D

Have a quorum somebody can move to uh from for the rest.

D

For for uh the remainder of this year and going forward.

D

We can have a motion just to move the date to.

D

Every third wednesday, at six o'clock in the evening.

A

Yeah with nicole uh making sure we have a room.

A

Available, well, that's a good point. um We'll find something.

A

We're meeting uh remotely right now anyway, but.

D

Just understood, but at some point that's no longer well.

D

Depending on what the state legislative body does.

D

At some point we will be back in the room physically and yes, we'll have to.

D

Find somewhere for us to be located so that'll be a job.

D

That, nicole and nikki- and I can get done okay.

A

Then I'll take a motion to change the dates for the rest of.

A

um Let me just say for the rest of this school year. I would say this just to ask.

D

For a motion to change the regular meeting date.

D

uh The regular meeting times yeah going forward.

C

I can do it.

C

Going forward, I I move that the remainder of.

C

The board of public safety meetings um meet every third wednesday at 6, 00 p.m.

C

Going forward a second.

C

I guess we didn't ask to see: if is this? Okay with the.

C

A

They just have to show up. Okay, I'm like what about the firefighters and the.

C

Police officers, we don't ask, we can't make it we'll, have plenty of.

H

C

Okay, she wants to make sure- and I also want to highlight.

C

I'm sorry I meant to share this earlier. um There was a.

C

A woman who was stuck in the sewer and the firefighters had to.

C

Kind of like, is she doing okay like what? What does that look like like I've? Never.

C

Heard that case anything like that before I don't have.

G

The exact details on it, but um we train for that. That's a that's called a.

G

Confined space rescue for us, we have a technical rescue team.

G

That specializes in those kinds of abilities.

G

And and strategies and tactics, my understanding is is that she is doing.

G

Fine and uh that she was, she was fine at the.

G

Time we took her out, so um it was.

G

A great job on her on our our people's part, so.

C

Yeah sounds like it. It sounds like that was good work.

G

Thanks, thank you. um Nicole. Do you want to take the.

A

Approval for the change of date.

F

uh Yeah, susan, yes, maquiba, yes, rafi.

B

Yes, um and do you guys have a preference for room.

E

At all, the room that we've always been in is the.

A

Because that is not available on the third wednesdays yeah.

E

I've already looked into that. No, we don't think I don't think we have.

A

Preference: okay, the one right upstairs like what's.

C

That, what's that the allison conference room.

I

Would be ideal um because we can project onto the tv.

I

That's up there if we can't have the mccloskey, but we can. We can all email and talk about that later. Okay,.

A

um Then we will move on to police department, business.

A

And the report on monthly statistics and training, okay.

H

uh Calls for service for july uh continued to be down.

H

Over july of 2019, as you can see from the.

H

Bar graph, there.

H

Some of the categories did show some increases.

H

Especially as it relates to domestic violence, I think I talked about.

H

We were hopeful that that number would continue to be down.

H

That might be a couple of pages away, but it almost seemed to catch up.

H

With what had been done previously, actually, prior to that, it looks like.

H

Adult arrests are down significantly over july from 2019.

H

And um juvenile referrals it looks like we only had one.

H

In the month of july, there had been 10 the year prior.

H

And then we get the domestic violence cases, as you can see,.

H

June, I think I talked about how we were down about 30.

H

um It looks like we were pretty close. We were just off by one from what we had.

H

In july of 2019 34 in july of 19 33 in.

H

July of 2020, so unfortunately our streak in a positive way did not hold.

H

You see our hate crimes, it was not a reporting quarter.

H

uh However, I indicated that I would try to find out.

H

For the board, what the one was for the reporting period from april through june.

H

uh And as I understand it, it was a racial slur directed at someone.

H

uh Which resulted in a hate crime report being generated there.

H

um If we go to crime trends, major cases, uh we had the murder of thomas pleasant.

H

On south walnut springs drive that case remains under investigation. I.

H

Believe within the last week to maybe 10 days.

H

The murder suspect, from the event on north walnut street, that we had talked.

H

About last month uh that individual was arrested in.

H

Kansas city, um so that is uh one that uh I believe.

H

He's probably already been extradited back to the state.

H

I think he waived expedition. um We also had.

H

A number of theft from vehicles in areas of dixie and rogers.

H

And we had theft of checks and money, orders from uh 10 different apartment.

H

Complexes from their drop boxes- and that is where one of the categories.

H

Where we did see a rise in some of our incidents, and that was.

H

Related to property crimes- and we also did see a few more aggravated.

H

Batteries and things like that, so some of that may very well be attributed.

H

To some of the warmer weather that we had in the month of july, because sometimes we have found that warmer weather and.

H

Too much closeness can contribute to violent incidents.

B

B

uh Could you explain, um I guess in terms of you uh publishing.

B

This information about uh crime trends and major cases. What.

B

Qualifies or essentially um why.

B

Like I guess, what what what would be considered.

B

uh As something to make this list- and I asked that.

B

More specifically, uh knowing that there was a.

B

A uh young lady that was the victim of a uh stabbing.

B

And um like I know, I know that this I believe that the suspect.

B

Or the uh uh the individual's in custody. But I didn't know if it was because.

B

uh Essentially, you have identified a suspect.

B

Versus uh the ones that are reported here.

B

As things that uh the folks have not been identified on, however,.

B

And you stating that the uh individual that is being charged with.

B

The the murder of thomas pleasant.

B

Is in custody, uh I guess I that kind of blew up my logic so yeah. If.

B

You can just explain how.

B

I guess like what what gets from from your perspective, how do you.

B

Make the decision to include just on on the report that we.

B

Have in front of us okay, so keep in mind.

C

You went, you were mute, sorry.

H

Okay, thank you. I don't don't know how that happened.

H

Anyway, keep in mind that we are talking about july statistics.

H

Rafi and so the incident you are speaking of about the most recent.

H

Attempted murder is an incident that took place in the month of august that individual was in fact taken into custody.

H

um And the murder of mr pleasant on south walnut springs.

H

That is still under investigation. um The one I spoke of about the individual.

H

Being in custody from kansas city was for the murder that took place at.

H

The gas station on north walnut street uh 2100 block 2110. I think it is north.

H

Walnut street, so I was simply trying to provide some closure to the board, because I knew that we had spoken about.

H

That incident last month and um but again, what makes this list are.

H

Those cases um that are somewhat atypical for us I.e the murder uh of mr.

H

Pleasant again, any homicide uh is is going to be brought to the.

H

Board detention, because that is a major case um and if you'll look at the second highlight there, theft from vehicle.

H

Series and when we talk about series, that's kind of a term that's used by crime analysts in that you are looking for a number of events.

H

That can be related um and because of the proximity.

H

Of those theft from vehicles happening in a confined space or.

H

Within a proximity of one another of dixie and rogers,.

H

That's why that would make the list, because there were probably you know, 10.

H

To 15 vehicles in that and that's a pretty significant.

H

Number to be hitting in a particular neighborhood.

H

And then again, when you look at the third bullet point, there.

H

uh Theft of checks from 10 different apartment complexes again.

H

We're talking about a a crime that has similar.

H

uh Mo modes operandi, um that are, that you know probably committed by the.

H

Same individual simply because of the manner in which they were done.

H

And the locations at which they were done so.

H

um That's really kind of how it breaks down.

H

Okay, yes, it is, and series doesn't refer to.

B

I guess like a team of folks no or it just more or less means the same type.

H

It means a number of different events that are probably related for a variety.

H

Of factors, whether that be the manner in which it was done, maybe.

H

The object of what they were trying to take.

H

You know, and again primarily location and things like that.

H

Okay, thank you um and then training, uh 1256 hours.

H

We did have a legal update provided by the prosecutor's office, which uh a.

H

Number of officers attended. We had four instructors that attended an.

H

Excited delirium and agitated chaotic events course.

H

And the reason for sending instructors would be that they can come back and.

H

Teach other members of the department about that. We got notice of another implicit bias.

H

Course that was being offered by a police oriented training company.

H

And we signed on to get additional officers.

H

That may be newer officers that may had not gone through one that we had.

H

But we also offered it up to some of our other officers.

H

Basically, if you hadn't had it, you were going to get it by.

H

By being signed up for this course, if you've already had it.

H

You also have the opportunity to get yet additional training.

H

In that area that we were making available to to other officers as well.

H

And then we continue to have officers attend.

H

Our online, essentially our training, the annual training, that's required.

H

And some of the seminars, for that would be suicide by cop.

H

And trauma and the brain so.

H

Again, community engagement events uh very limited.

H

Simply because of covid, we had five events for just a total of nine.

H

And a few uh nine hours um different officers involved would be eleven and.

H

We went to the crestmont playground in coordination with bloomington housing.

H

Authority, we spoke with parent and children in the crestmont housing area and also had some citizen contacts at.

H

Switchard substation, which is off of patterson or grimes lane,.

H

And we'll continue to get up to a crestmont.

H

To the playground and try to make some connections there as well.

H

A police, social worker, total number of referrals was 20.

H

She had 160 contacts and, uh and you can see, melissa's quote there.

H

I interact with 44 separate individuals and families, which is the largest monthly caseload. I've had, and if I remember correctly,.

H

Last month we said that last month was the highest.

H

Number that she'd had and now she's uh even exceeded that so that continues to.

H

Be a very uh popular program for us and one.

H

uh That has been extremely uh beneficial, so um in any event, I will also note that.

H

If you did not see it, both melissa and jessica, our.

H

Neighborhood resource specialist, one of our two neighborhood resource specialists did a facebook live presentation which.

H

Is still available on the bpd website, both of them did an.

H

Excellent job in describing uh what they do for the department.

H

uh Their their individual responsibilities, as well as answered a.

H

Number of questions from the community, and uh both of them just did an awesome.

H

Job in uh representing um our department and again, both.

H

Programs have been very, very successful. I was able to watch that I was able to.

C

Watch that okay and then you can see the summary for the.

H

Police, social worker- um you know, as far as what she did some.

H

Of the wins that she calls them and then below there.

H

Would be the neighborhood resource specialist? They had 69 calls for service and what I've done is just kind of listed underneath that.

H

To kind of give you a flavor of the types of calls.

H

That they are taking and one of the primary.

H

Reasons for their existence is to try to relieve the load.

H

From the sworn officers, by taking some that, don't really require a sworn police.

H

Officer to go yet it's somebody that expecting something from the department, so this is our way of trying to provide that.

H

Service, that's it on the stats.

A

Okay, um letters of appreciation, commendation.

H

Yes, we had several the first one that comes up is for officer, matt, gilmore,.

H

And you can see the comment from the individual. There is basically the officer responded professionally to his home to help uh the uh person and his wife after a vandalism.

H

uh Was very thankful, and I thank the officer for the help.

H

uh The second one- uh and I believe we touched on this last month as well.

H

But this would be for officers. Paul post drew bazan.

H

Amy ramoser brandon deckard, jeff, reese zack weiss height and lieutenant mick.

H

Williams- and this would be the incident that happened out at petsmart on the west, on the west side of town, where we had an individual. That.

H

Was threatening folks with a knife inside a business.

H

And then our officers confronted him and were able to take him into custody using.

H

um Less lethal options and.

H

That had a very good outcome, so this is an individual who is complimenting us on.

H

That next would be officer garrett, mitchell.

H

Responded professionally to a phone call to help.

H

For a no trespass order.

H

And then the next one is from elected prosecutor.

H

Erica oliphant, who was again complimenting the officers on their.

H

Performance uh regarding the individual on the west side and then that comment went a little bit further by saying that.

H

She continued to be impressed with the bloomington police department's policy.

H

Training and other initiatives, and but specifically cited the event on the.

H

West side and finally, last but certainly not least,.

H

A letter of compliment from board member rafi assan.

H

Complementing officers demetra campbell, connor dunn, as well as gabby esquivel,.

H

H

Program that was conducted by mccsc, and it looks like the particular session.

H

Was brown and black skin and a blue uniform and these officers.

H

Apparently performed very, very well- and I think rafi mentioned this in last-.

H

Month's meaning uh about how well they did so.

H

um I don't I I can see his words on paper, but I certainly don't want to take.

H

Anything away from him if he were choose to.

H

Talk any further about the the letter, although I indicated last month that it.

H

Was coming and we appreciate it and I believe wholeheartedly those officers.

H

Did a good job and undoubtedly represented the department.

H

Very, very well, so that's it on letters.

A

uh General business: okay, I'm going to defer to captain scott oldham and this.

H

Would be, I don't see it as a regular agenda item but, as you know, we've been uh directed to uh review the 21st century policing report with the board.

H

um And I I know miss yoon. You were not available last month, but we opted that.

H

We would go through a couple of pillars each month in an effort to meet the.

H

Mayor's request- and I am deferring to captain oldham to.

H

Take over that portion.

J

Thank you, deputy chief good evening um tonight. What we want to do is just cover.

J

Some of the highlights from you for pillars, two and three: um the first.

J

Pillar is pillar two, which is policy and oversight. This is a wide ranging pillar. It.

J

Kind of moves through a lot of different areas, so we're going to go.

J

Fairly quickly, so please stop me, ask questions if you have them.

J

One of the first recommendations recommendation 2.1, the law enforcement.

J

Agencies should collaborate with community members to develop policies and strategies in communities and neighborhoods disproportionately affected by crime for deploying resources that aim to reduce crime.

J

By improving relationships, greater community engagement and cooperation.

J

Many years ago we began the neighborhood watch program.

J

That has paid us dividends for decades. We then morphed into doing more.

J

Community outreach specifically targeted to certain areas.

J

And have neighborhood meetings that has given rise as you've seen in the last.

J

Couple years to the neighborhood resource specialists.

J

As well as the downtown downtown resource officer program, I'm.

J

Sorry as you're very well aware, the downtown resource officer program is a very high profile program that deals.

J

Specifically, those individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

J

But it also goes beyond that. It partners with shalom center stone.

J

Hand, volunteers in medicine, many many others.

J

To try and get to the root of the issues which cause those individuals to come.

J

Into contact with the department, as we move forward.

J

We also got into intelligence-led policing, which basically has us examining the crimes as they occur each week.

J

Analyzing, what we can do it again to get to the root cause.

J

Much like the deputy chief mentioned earlier, when we had a number of thefts from vehicles in a certain area in a series that would give rise to a.

J

Response as to how to prevent that from occurring further and each week, we take a look at those crimes.

J

The lieutenant sat down and devised some type of strategy.

J

Oftentimes, with the help of neighborhood groups, neighborhood resource officers.

J

And move forward with that to make things better there as you go on.

J

Recommendation 2.2 is a law. Enforcement agency should have comprehensive.

J

Policies on use of force that include training investigations, prosecutions, data collection, information sharing, these.

J

Policies must be clear, concise and openly available for public.

J

Inspection, all of our policies are cleared through kalia, which is.

J

Commissioned on the accreditation for law enforcement agencies, uh just as a reminder, the board, less than five percent of agencies in the.

J

World have received clear accreditation and bloomington was very pleased to have received it in the last couple of years.

J

Those policies which are surveys serve as a model for.

J

Police agencies worldwide, ours conform to those policies.

J

All of our policies are available for any review.

J

On public request, one of the parts of this is the data on use of force should.

J

Be collected and officers required to fill out a post-event form. We do that on any use of force. The.

J

Officers have to fill it out, that is in a multi-tiered review process.

J

Where their supervisors see it lieutenant sees it reviews various parts.

J

Of it, including body, worn video and I do a random pull of various uses.

J

Of force throughout the month so again once again just reviewing use of force to make sure it's within policy.

J

And within procedures, section 2.1 or that's actually 2.21 is the law.

J

Enforcement agencies, policies for training on the use of force should emphasize de-escalation and alternatives to.

J

Arrests or summons or situations are appropriate bloomington.

J

Is one of the few agencies that weaves de-escalation through absolutely.

J

Everything we do. It would seem odd that we would put.

J

De-Escalation, high in a vehicle course, you know training.

J

Officers how to drive, but one of the first things that is mentioned in that course, is how to de-escalate a pursuit. How do we keep a.

J

Pursuit from getting into a high-speed crash in the long run.

J

Everything from how we talk to people to how we deal with people.

J

I think one of the best examples you see this month is the letters that have come in in support of in thanking the officers.

J

For the de-escalation tactics that took a long period of time out on.

J

The west side of town, when dealing with an individual who was.

J

Armed with a knife and in fact had pulled the knife on the officer while they were in close proximity, so it's very important that we take.

J

De-Escalation very seriously, which we do and again.

J

It's woven through everything that we teach.

J

Moving down section 2.23, the action item is the task force, encourages policies.

J

That mandate, the external and independent prosecutors in case of police use of force resulting in death, officer-involved shootings.

J

Resulting in injury, death or in custody of death in the cases that.

J

We have had of that. The monroe county prosecutor is the reviewing authority. It.

J

Has nothing to do with the city of bloomington and or any of our.

J

Employees we create the case report. It goes to the prosecutor's office.

J

For an independent and thorough review, they take their time with that. Look at.

J

All the aspects of it look at all the evidence of it before they send anything back or make any rulings. We have nothing to do with.

J

The prosecution of any of those cases, section 2.25 as policies on use of force.

J

Should clearly state what types of information be released when and in what situations, main transparency.

J

One of our policies, which is directly on point, is officer-involved shootings and.

J

Custody death is the name of the policy at the time.

J

That has subsequently been changed now: officer-involved use of deadly force.

J

To make it more, encompassing as to exactly what we're talking about.

J

And as we continue to go through these action items, another one is 2.7.

J

Law enforcement agencies create policies procedures for dealing with mass demonstrations that employ a continuum of managed tactical resources that are designed to minimize the appearance of a military.

J

Operation and avoid using proactive tactics and equipment that undervise civilian trust, I think you've all seen us handle large.

J

Demonstrations, um we quite frankly have been received a.

J

Lot of um not sure what a good word a lot of.

J

Recognition from department of justice on how we handle demonstrations, um we.

J

Don't take an appearance of a military occupying force, we don't line.

J

All of our folks up out there in riot gear.

J

Most of the ones that we deal with are, quite frankly, large expressions of the.

J

First amendment free speech- and we take that very seriously, so we.

J

Train our officers and craft our policy and craft our responses to maximize an individual's ability to use the first amendment, while.

J

Still remaining safe, skipping down a little recommendation.

J

2.8 is some sort of civilian oversight of law enforcement.

J

Is important in order to strengthen trust within the community, every community should define the appropriate foreign structures for an oversight to meet the needs of that community. That's where you, the civilian board of.

J

Safety comes in that by statutory law is what you are.

J

The the board that controls the hiring and the firing the policies, the.

J

Procedures of the department.

J

Without getting into going through every one of these, because several of them are.

J

Directed at the federal government, section 2.13 is a recommendation. The law.

J

Enforcement industry should adopt and enforce policies prohibiting profiling.

J

And discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion,.

J

Age, gender, gender identification expression, sexual orientation.

J

Immigration status, disability, housing status, occupation or language fluency.

J

Here, your own board of public safety rules and regulations into chapter 14.

J

Has exactly that a statement on personal conduct of the officers that.

J

Takes into account those things so, as we close out section two as again.

J

It's pillar two is a very wide ranging um it.

J

Tends to move around a little bit, but all of it deals with.

J

Maximizing control over what we do and, quite frankly, making sure what we do is.

J

In the best interest of the public as a whole, not something else is there any questions on two.

J

Before I get into three okay pillar, three.

J

Again will be very short because the vast majority of this is directed at the.

J

United states, government or its agencies, it is titled technology.

J

And social media, I'm not sure why they lumped the two together. Then it seemed to make sense to someone, but it talks a lot about the department of justice.

J

The national institute of justice and the federal government as a whole.

J

One of the ones that does somewhat apply to us is section 3.2, a recommendation.

J

That implementation of appropriate technology by law enforcement agencies.

J

Should be designed considering local needs and align with national standards.

J

Again, something that you have seen frankly when paying the bills.

J

We do a lot of things with technology. A lot of them are some high dollar items.

J

But they pay dividends in the long run, um just two to name right off. The top is.

J

Spillman technologies, the the cad system, computer-aided dispatch.

J

System that basically controls everything we do at the department from.

J

The instant a call is received at 9-1-1 center all the way.

J

Through the case report, the dispatch of the officers, the case report.

J

And ultimately, all the way to the prosecutor's office and back spillman technologies is under is the underlying controlling.

J

Program as it were, that gets everything done. uh We were one of the first in the.

J

Country to adopt body worn cameras in 2013.

J

Those have been in consistent use ever since.

J

All of our officers, all of our officers, are equipped with body worn cameras. We.

J

Have a substantial storehouse of those videos.

J

That we maintain for purposes both evidentiary procedures.

J

Case report review review for us for policies and procedures and in the long run, they're available.

J

For public should a request be made, there's a couple other.

J

Things that we've gone, that really don't take a lot of notice for the public, but.

J

Do make things a lot quicker for the officers such as an e-ticket system, an online crash report.

J

And other analytical systems again that tie into.

J

The crime analysis, which again goes back to pillar.

J

Three, I'm sorry pillar, two, where we talk about how we implement crime, fighting.

J

Strategies to make sure that it's in the best interest of everyone, as.

J

To how we're doing it and what we're doing and more importantly, is this something that is actually needed.

J

The vast majority of the rest of pillar iii.

J

Is dedicated to the federal government and or the federal government providing.

J

Enough resources to support local governments in that.

J

Technology, a lot of it deals with body-worn cameras.

J

Which, when the 21st century policing report came out, were not that far into use. As far as mass general issue that we're seeing.

J

Today, there's still a lot of agencies without them. I think in some cases we were the ones that frankly.

J

Helped work some of the bugs out of the body, worn cameras. There were some issues to with the ruggedness, with them power systems and other things that um we had to fight our way through, but.

J

Finally, we were we've come to a system at this point time that.

J

Is very robust, it's very reliable and while it is expensive in the long run,.

J

I don't think there's any price you want to put on.

J

Being able to actually witness what occurs on the street.

J

So that's it, but if any of you guys have questions on those be more than happy to entertain them.

J

Okay, thank you very much. Scott, yes yeah this is this is uh this is more.

B

Of a comment I have um you know, pillar to.

B

And I again want to want to thank you. I know.

B

um And I guess I'm stating this for the record.

B

um And certainly for anybody that uh does not know, but I was formerly.

B

A a city, employee and, at that time uh the work that the police.

B

Department was doing um you know, I don't think we had the.

B

Downtown resource officers officer program in place, so I.

B

Know that the bloomington police department, in a.

B

Very short, amount of time uh has made changes.

B

uh You know, based on uh you know, certainly interaction.

B

With members of the public, and certainly looking at many of the recommendations.

B

That came out of the downtown safety civility and justice initiative.

B

I'm I'm gonna say this um and I I don't want it to be kind of.

B

Misconstrued but uh you know certainly my work in equity.

B

Is uh essentially a focus on making sure.

B

That uh you know in this case, uh you know.

B

Residents are, you know, being heard.

B

And I state that in relationship to pillar number, two.

B

Where uh you know again, we where it states that we must have.

B

Policies that reflect our communities, values.

B

And there's a specific emphasis on uh communities where we see.

B

This proportionality uh affected by crime.

B

Until um and I know that in in commentary and and you just kind of.

B

Reporting on that, you did discuss how you know: bloomington.

B

Police department has participated in a number of community.

B

Initiatives, however, unless those community outreach events.

B

Are designed intentionally to elicit responses.

B

That allow community members to actually express what those values are.

B

um It won't be, I don't see it as a process where those.

B

Community members are actually providing.

B

um What it is that they value so that the police department.

B

Can't actually have information so unless there's.

B

Something that's happening where you have somebody maybe going around.

B

Actually getting anecdotal information, you know getting commentary, um you know.

B

From residents at these events, just and and you're being very explicit to them about the work that uh the police.

B

Department is doing uh and trying to you know.

B

I guess relative to what killer two talks about in terms of policy and.

B

Oversight, I I it can't it, it won't be considered.

B

That way, now in stating that it does not mean that.

B

The bloomington police department has not moved in a direction.

B

I am simply trying to convey um the messages that come out of the work.

B

That we do in equity, where there is a focus. First of.

B

All on being very intentional, with residents about the work that it is.

B

That you're doing that means you know absolutely being in front and.

B

If that involves um identifying some way that.

B

They can over a course of a few months, uh or you know there can be.

B

Some sort of event that's designed to actually elicit their responses.

B

um And certainly something that.

B

Has to be sustainable, so it can't be a all right. We did it once.

B

So that's it! It has to be something that their.

B

Input is is uh continuing to be a given until that actually happens.

B

um I I will not be satisfied that we've met.

B

Pillar number: two um again, that's more of a statement. I.

B

Certainly expect you to comment, but until I actually see something like that.

B

uh I'll consider it community outreach. I know that we do a lot of work, but.

B

Until we have something- that's very intentional about eliciting the.

B

Responses from community members about those values as it relates to.

B

Bpd's policies, particularly the policies that affect those communities, I will I.

B

Will not be satisfied thanks. I think you make some very good.

J

Points rafi and it's it's something that we have been as you state trying to very be very intentional. To do.

J

um I found quite frankly over the years when you talk about anecdotal things,.

J

That you tend to get a lot better, anecdotal information when it's one-on-one, as opposed to a large group setting.

J

We do spend now, albeit covet, is going to put a dent in a lot of our.

J

Ability to be one-on-one with folks a lot of time.

J

Out on patrol when we have the opportunity to get out and talk to.

J

People particularly the supervisors, particularly the neighborhood resource.

J

Specialist and particularly the district officers to get out and actually interface with the people in the neighborhoods that.

J

They're serving the ultimate goal is to have the same officers in the same neighborhood all the time so that the citizens know.

J

Who their officers are- um and I had the pleasure of doing that for years when I.

J

Was on patrol, I worked in an area that became very.

J

Near and dear to me- and it was an area that it did have some.

J

Challenges but I've got to say that I learned so.

J

Very much from frankly not worrying about the police.

J

Citizen part of it just talking to folks there when area.

J

After calls or when I was out for take your pick, whether it was to drink a.

J

Pop or whatever else we we got a lot out of that.

J

um Kobe has created some challenges with that, but coveted is not going to last.

J

Forever so I think you're exactly correct that we do need to redouble our efforts. We need to make sure that we're getting into those areas that we're hosting different style forms.

J

Coffee with a cop would only go so far, so there's a lot of room for us to try.

J

And make improvements, and I I'm absolutely certain what you say and.

J

Agree with what you say um that we do need to make a better effort at that, and that's definitely something we're planning to do.

J

But you know I hope we can, and I know again you and I have been friends for a.

J

While I know we can count on you to help us with that, because there are some challenges that it's just difficult for us to get over those occasionally and we're going to need some help.

C

I wanted to um acknowledge that the support in a couple of peaceful protests.

C

That took place here in bloomington, as it relates to building trust. I think.

C

That that was a um conduit to support.

C

The peacefulness of uh different uh young organizers, where they were able.

C

To come and talk to chief decoff and learn more about um policing in.

C

Bloomington, because the thing is what we, what we see is.

C

Nationwide um police brutality and then, like people, kind of think that.

C

It's in our neighborhood and again people's experiences with the.

C

Police are different, their lived experiences are different, but in the in that moment those young organizers were able to.

C

Learn and hear from chief decough versus assuming or anything like that, and so I know that they were really thankful for the opportunity to.

C

Build something I don't know what that's going to happen. What was going to.

C

Leverage that, but they were really thankful that they were able to go.

C

And learn about what bloomington police department is doing and how.

C

The statement about the mishap that happened with the murder.

C

With uh george floyd and and uh dkoff able to share his.

C

Experiences and share his thought process was really helpful for those individuals, and I do think that it will take some time.

C

To continue to build that trust, I know that we have a budget beating at this same time, but it's going to take some time to continue.

C

To build that trust, but I know that those young organizers were really thankful for the opportunity.

C

And, like you said it takes, um I plan on bringing more people to the.

C

Table so that we can have these healthy dialogues healthy.

C

Conversations, even if it is with the um police department and also with the fire.

C

Department, so that we can um do our best as far as like building the trust.

C

I think that's my number one um pillar that I.

C

Personally, pay attention to as one of the board members is. How do we build.

C

And um build that trust and I think that's an ongoing process.

J

Well, I appreciate you saying that as well and it's not something that we.

J

Haven't taken to heart over the years, you know it's funny when you ask most.

J

Citizens, what the duties of a police officer are what their main duties are.

J

You're always going to hear, protect and serve always and rafi's.

J

Heard me get on this soapbox a couple of times before and.

J

When you look at him and ask that question, you will always get protect and serve or fight crime or whatever else one of the first duties. One of the first.

J

Things that we swear when taking an oath is the duty to protect and defend the.

J

Constitution, the united states, which starts with the first amendment so.

J

We need to absolutely be sure that we're defending that right, because it is a precious right, because there's countries in this country that there's countries in this world that don't have it.

J

I think meeting with a lot of folks over the years they always come away.

J

Surprised that we're willing to meet with them absolutely we are we've done this a time or two, as the commercial says,.

J

So we can offer some advice on how to make your take your pick whatever it is,.

J

You're gathering your march, whatever else work in a smoother fashion, in a safer fashion,.

J

And, quite frankly, I think, over the years, a lot of folks have been very surprised.

J

With kind of the reaction that bpd gives them as opposed to what they've had, in other other places and, frankly, we're very.

J

Proud of them, we are absolutely determined that we will.

J

Maintain those rights as affordable to the united states citizens and that's everyone not just picking and.

J

Choosing one or the other, but I would absolutely for the most part.

J

Beg people come see us, let us help you, let us facilitate.

J

What needs to happen so we don't have something happen that.

J

You didn't foresee, because this is the first time you plan an event.

J

But we've done this hundreds of times before.

A

Thank you. um We will move on to whether there are any upcoming large.

A

Purchases for the department, if you haven't gotten them already, I.

H

Believe I saw an email the other day that listed.

H

Radios, mobile radios for the vehicles, that was a pretty large expenditure and.

H

I believe also in that email was replacement.

H

Vests for the officers which is mandated by the state, but they don't provide any.

H

Funding so that funding is left to us to provide.

H

Those vests and we kind of do that on a rotating basis, so I think that there is a group that may be.

H

Receiving a new vest, so I think that that might have been both of those if you haven't seen them. I think you.

H

Will see them very soon.

A

And we'll move on to personnel issues, we have two on extended sick or light.

H

Duty and I will defer to uh captain pedego.

H

For an update on the current uh processes.

K

All right, thanks, deputy chief, we do have an ongoing process with.

K

Three certified officers that wish to transfer to our agency from other.

K

Agencies in indiana we currently have 10 openings.

K

We have 95 sworn as of today and technically as of right now we're a.

K

Lot of the 105, so we do have 10 openings, hoping to fill three of those.

K

With these certified applicants, I believe the board should have gotten.

K

The the memo that I submitted with the names of the three officers.

K

One is john mccoy, he is approximately a five-year officer from.

K

Orleans indiana, where he technically I'm sorry where he.

K

Holds the rank of corporal right now.

K

The second is levi adkins. He is a graduate of indiana university. He just.

K

Graduated this past spring and he went through their academy.

K

Program while he was a student at indiana university and graduated with.

K

His bachelor's, he worked part-time for us as one of our.

K

Downtown officers, they kind of helped supplement with foot patrols and things such as that and.

K

Got to be kind of a well-known face around the department.

K

And I really liked the way that the agency handled things and.

K

Decided to seek permanent full-time employment with us.

K

And the third is jacob hunter. Jake was an officer with.

K

Bpd for approximately eight years he made it to the rank of uh I'm sorry.

K

The assignment of detective uh and jake did a fantastic job for us.

K

His father was a bloomington officer, for I believe, 32 years.

K

Jake decided that he was going to move. He took a position with the.

K

Indianapolis metropolitan police department in october of 2019.

K

Since that time he has graduated from a well kind of an accelerated academy, the.

K

Impd officers for certified transfers uh he's successfully.

K

Completed their field training program, however, uh in speaking with jake, he said he he really just.

K

uh He's not not overly crazy about the uh the policing culture.

K

uh At indy metro, he said he feels like bloomington is home.

K

And that he really just wants to transfer back to bloomington.

K

So that's he has reapplied with us.

A

Do any of the other board members have any questions about.

A

These three hires.

C

I'm just a little curious about jacob's.

C

Desire to return back to bloomington is he a native. You said, he's a native from.

C

Bloomington that's correct. Well, uh he might have.

K

Grown up in greene county, I'm, I'm can't remember where he graduated high.

K

School, uh I know at one point: his parents lived in greene county, but his.

K

Father was a 32-year veteran of bloomington police.

K

And then jake worked here for eight kind of filled in actually, I think he started.

K

The year his father retired uh worked eight years for us transferred.

K

And now wishes to return, and so, while he was away.

C

um He did the accelerated program, and so he so his rec like what? What does.

C

His record look like like: is it absolutely no disciplinary issues.

K

Whatsoever, uh no he's had no uh complaints filed against.

K

Him he got extremely high remarks from his uh current.

K

Supervisor he works night shift in the north district right now,.

K

um And, to be honest with you, the way that his supervisor spoke with his.

K

Background investigator, um I think they're going to be sad to.

K

Lose jake uh because he's a good officer for him.

K

We also uh his background investigator made it a point to speak with other.

K

People that jake currently works with other officers that are assigned to that.

K

North district they've never seen jake do anything out.

K

Of line no excessive use of force, nothing along those lines, so it's.

K

I certainly understand your concerns, but we we did a very thorough background.

K

Even just since he's only been gone since october, but we.

K

Looked very closely at that to ensure that it wasn't someone that might be running from something or something along those.

K

Lines, but that simply isn't the case. That's okay! Thank you for that.

C

H

Just just to be clear, mcqueen he uh he is not running away from anything.

H

He is running back to something in some place that he considers home.

H

As well as a desire to join a department that he believes, does it the right way.

H

And one that he wants to rejoin for that purpose,.

H

Okay, thank you. Any comments. Ralphie.

A

Okay, um well, it says here that um what we're doing is uh approving.

A

These candidates for probationary police officers.

K

I'm sorry, that's no! That's not accurate! I'm just seeking the board's approval to.

K

Extend a conditional offer of employment to these applicants.

K

They still need to finish the rest of our hiring process, which is the.

K

Psychological and physical testing, as well as.

K

Being accepted by the local retirement board and.

K

The state retirement board so approval for a conditional offer of employment.

A

Yes, ma'am, okay and that can be effective today,.

K

Sure yeah I just uh would need to reach out to him. uh I would, within the coming.

K

Days, if the board approves that, I would certainly reach out within the coming days and extend that conditional offer of employment.

A

Okay, um would someone like to make a motion.

A

Or have any discussion chris just a point of clarification? Will we need to.

B

um Make a motion for each individual uh and offer to each.

B

uh Individual or conditional offer excuse me to each individual, or can we.

B

Do that, can we think that's how we've done it in.

A

The past, that's generally, what we do uh is a motion per.

D

Candidate just to make sure that the record is.

D

Clean and the board members are approving for.

D

Each one of them, okay, uh I moved to make a recommendation to.

B

Provide a conditional offer of employment.

B

To john mccoy contingent upon.

B

Certification uh of the local and state retirement board.

B

um I guess for uh a probationary police officer with.

B

Bloomington with the bloomington uh police department, that makes sense.

C

It makes sense second, susan, yes,.

F

Maquiba, yes, rafi. Yes,.

B

I'd like to make a motion to extend a conditional offer of employment to.

B

Levi adkins, depending upon.

B

His completion of the local and state or excuse me, depending.

B

Upon his certification by the local and state retirement board,.

B

To uh probationary police officer with the bloomington police department.

C

F

All right, susan, yes, maquiba, yes, rafi.

B

B

I'd like to motion to.

B

Provide a conditional offer of employment to.

B

Jacob hunter contingent upon his certification.

B

By the local and state retirement board to a probationary police officer.

B

With the bloomington police department.

F

uh Susan, yes, maquita, yes, rafi, yes,.

K

Thank you very much. Okay, all three.

A

All three candidates have been approved to move forward.

A

Next on the agenda is business which we don't have any of.

A

And um next is the cert arv employment report, zero.

A

Okay and then um the point where we would take comments.

A

From the public and right now it looks like we have.

A

um Bill would you, like you, have three minutes if you'd like to make.

A

A public comment.

A

But you're on mute.

D

D

Nicole, are you able to unmute bill's phone.

E

um I have like hit the ask to unmute button.

D

Okay um and traditionally the way that we've handled that.

E

Is uh that if someone would like to speak the same.

E

Message that way we can unmute them um and has he messaged messaged. You.

D

Yet he has not okay um and there has not been any emails.

E

um Okay, then it doesn't and- and you say there.

D

Are no emails or any other communications from the public.

E

uh That is correct, no emails, okay and it doesn't look like we have any.

D

Petitions or communications from the public, okay.

A

um Then I would take a motion to adjourn.

B

Motion to adjourn the august meeting of the board of public.

B

Safety all right, so our next meeting will be.

A

September 16th um and um maybe nicole, you can send out.

A

An email with the new dates and all of that.

E

I can do that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all very much. Everybody stay.

C

Safe bye, thank you.

L

L