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It has been some time since I last put my thoughts to paper, but tonight’s joint public safety budget meeting has compelled me to share my perspective with anyone willing to listen. As we find ourselves in the thick of the municipal budget season, I empathize with those responsible for crafting presentations and managing department budgets.
Tonight, as the budgets for the South Bend Police Department and the South Bend Fire Department are presented jointly, I wish to ensure that my observations are not misconstrued during the proceedings. So I am opting to present them here.
First and foremost, it is paramount that we recognize the dedication of the men and women serving in both the South Bend Police Department and the Fire Department. Their commitment to safeguarding the community, at the cost of their own safety, warrants fair compensation for their invaluable service. It is crucial to clarify that in the context of any discussions surrounding overall budget cuts, I would never advocate that we should consider reducing or freezing salaries for our public safety personnel. With that said, South Bend Mayor James Mueller, please make sure our public safety workers are justly compensated during the upcoming negotiations.
My primary concern lies with the allocation of funds toward ShotSpotter. As of 2024, the city has already expended $329,649.00 on this program so far this year, (and the City has spent $200-330k year on Shot Spotter since its implementation) as the public continues to remain in the dark regarding the data collected and the effectiveness of the system. While this may seem like a small amount in light of South Bend’s adopted $417 million budget, the costs can accumulate quickly. I am inclined to propose cutting programs such as ShotSpotter as a means to balance our budget and to finance additional positions or salary enhancements.
Here is the City of South Bend's current response to Access to Public Records Act requests for ShotSpotter data. City Attorney Danielle Weiss has claimed:
"I will also note that in recent years, representatives of ShotSpotter have explained to me that the company considers all ShotSpotter data and records utilized by the City to be the sole and exclusive property of ShotSpotter. ShotSpotter representatives have further explained that the company has deemed such data and records to be ShotSpotter’s own confidential trade secrets. Under Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4(a)(4), records containing trade secrets may not be disclosed by a public agency. Therefore, even if the City did have responsive records to this request, I would be required to deny your request in accordance with Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4(a)(4)."
Our taxpayer money is being spent on a system that the police department claims to utilize, yet they evade sharing the data generated within it. This lack of transparency is unacceptable and raises serious concerns regarding accountability.
Reflecting on the history of ShotSpotter in South Bend, we cannot overlook the implications of former Chief of Police Ron Teachman's abrupt resignation in 2015, just two years after his appointment. Teachman, who was brought in from New Bedford, MA, initiated the implementation of ShotSpotter during his brief tenure. Strikingly, he transitioned directly into a role at ShotSpotter shortly thereafter, raising ethical red flags. Nearly a decade later, the taxpayers of South Bend find themselves continuously paying for a contract with ShotSpotter yet remain barred from accessing the data derived from a system ostensibly designed to enhance public safety.
As former South Bend Common Councilmember and former Police Officer Derek Dieter aptly remarked to the South Bend Tribune, “It’s got red flags all over it,” he said. “It’s just very, very concerning to me that suddenly he’s leaving and going to work for a company that, because he was chief, came to South Bend.” This revolving door between public service and private enterprise should give us pause. The concerns surrounding such transitions are not merely anecdotal; they reflect broader issues of trust, accountability, and the proper allocation of public resources. It is high time we demand transparency and seek alternatives that serve the public interest rather than those of private contractors.
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