This has been a painful week for America, and South Bend stands with those who grieve in Minnesota, in Louisiana, and in Dallas.
The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are under investigation, but what we do know now is that there were encounters by young men of color with police officers in those cities that did not have to end with someone losing their life.
Today, Mayor Pete Buttigieg joined Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski to appoint Eric Crittendon as Patrol Division Chief, Robert Lanchsweerdt as Support Division Chief, and Jeff Rynearson as Operations Division Chief. All are veterans of the South Bend Police Department.
Now that it’s summer break, the South Bend Police Department issues reminders to parents and kids that the City has a curfew.
In South Bend, residents under 17 cannot be in a public place without a guardian from 11 pm to 5 am Sunday through Thursday. The curfew is 1 am to 5 am Friday and Saturday.
Residents under 15 cannot be in a public place without a guardian after 11 pm or before 5 am on any day of the week.
The South Bend Police Department is hosting a free, week-long Summer Youth Academy from June 13-17. The program is free of charge and open to students enrolled in high school during the 2015-2016 academic year. Topics of discussion include crime scene processing, narcotics enforcement, patrol operations, and the K-9, SWAT and Bomb Disposal Unit.
The South Bend Police Department is looking for dedicated, community-minded individuals to join its ranks. The department is inviting interested men and women to fill out an application by Thursday, May 26.
The South Bend Police and Fire Departments will host a Bike Drive from 6-8 pm at the Howard Park Ice Rink parking lot on Friday, May 6 from 6-8 pm. Residents are encouraged to donate new and used bicycles or make a monetary donation that will go towards the purchase of bike locks and bike helmets for kids who participate in the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County after-school program at Harrison Primary Center.
The South Bend Police Department, Common Council President Tim Scott, and the group South Bend Neighborhoods will offer residents an opportunity to come together to discuss local issues with “Cops, Coffee, and Conversation” on Saturday, April 16th from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at The Well Coffeehouse 2410 E. Mishawaka Ave.
A crowd gathered at the South Bend Police Department on Sunday, April 3 for their 14th annual awards ceremony. At the event, officers were honored for acts ranging from talking a man out of suicide to apprehending an armed robbery suspect. The ceremony also recognized civilian employees and residents who have rendered outstanding service to the department.
Designed to acquaint residents with the activities of police officers, the South Bend Police Department is accepting applications now through February 23 for its spring Citizen’s Police Academy.
The nine-week academy held on Tuesday nights from 6-8:30pm, March 1 through April 26, will provide training in aspects of law enforcement, introducing residents to the issues that officers face on a daily basis.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg announces the appointment of Jeff Rynearson, a 24-year veteran of the South Bend Police Department, to serve as Uniform Division Chief. Rynearson succeeds Scott Ruszkowski, who was named Police Chief earlier this month.
The Uniform Division is the largest unit within the South Bend Police Department, including the patrol and traffic bureaus. Rynearson previously served as captain with the Uniform Division. Before that he worked as part of the K9 Unit and Patrol Division.
