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South Bend city officials want input on police chief searchSOUTH BEND, Oct 02, 2012 (South Bend Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- People will have an opportunity this week to offer their thoughts on the search for South Bend's next police chief. City officials are hosting a public forum Thursday to hear what qualities residents would like to see in the next chief. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Kroc Center, 900 W. Western Ave. "I see this as a chance to really bring out what citizens consider the most important attributes not only of a police chief but a police department for South Bend going into the future," Mayor Pete Buttigieg said. Strategic Policy Partnership, a Massachusetts-based firm that works on improving performance and selecting personnel for police departments and other government agencies, is facilitating the nationwide search for South Bend's next chief. Robert Wasserman, the firm's chairman, agreed to head the search for $1 because he has family ties to South Bend. The city's Board of Public Works voted in August to authorize spending up to $6,800 to pay the firm's staff that work on the project and cover other related costs. Robert Stewart, an associate with the firm, will moderate the hearing Thursday. Stewart has nearly 40 years of experience in law enforcement in Washington, D.C.; Louisville, Ky., and cities in Florida and New Jersey. He has also served as executive director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. The search for a new police chief is part of a saga that began six months ago. Buttigieg demoted Darryl Boykins, who had been the city's chief for four years, in late March after the department's practices for recording phone calls attracted the attention of federal investigators. The mayor also fired police communications director Karen DePaepe. Buttigieg has said the methods for recording phone calls inside the police department violated the Federal Wiretap Act. Boykins and DePaepe have insisted they treated the recordings the same way previous chiefs did. Federal prosecutors decided not to file any charges after the investigation, but both Boykins and DePaepe have filed tort claims against the city. Four officers and one officer's wife -- all of whom are rumored to be on the recordings -- have also filed a lawsuit against the city, Boykins, DePaepe and her attorney. Buttigieg said some people might never agree with the way he reacted to the recording scandal, but they can still weigh in on the police department's future. "I think it's a chance for everybody to be heard, whether they agree with the administration's approach or if they disagree," he said. Chuck Hurley, a former police chief, has been leading the department on an interim basis since Boykins' demotion. Buttigieg said he'd like to select a new chief by the end of the year. "Our main goal is to make sure we have a really good range of diverse perspectives at this town hall," the mayor said. "Nobody can make this decision for me, but it's very important to get a lot of input." Doors will open for Thursday's public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Spanish-language and sign-language translators will be available for those needing assistance. Staff writer Kevin Allen: [email protected] 574-235-6244 ___ (c)2012 the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.) Visit the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.) at www.southbendtribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |