To: Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, John Collins, President, South Bend Board of Public Safety, Eddie L. Miller, Member, South Bend Board of Public Safety, Luther Taylor, Member, South Bend Board of Public Safety, Daniel Jones, Member, ...
Black Lives Matter! Mayor Pete Please Help Remove Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski
My name is Jorden, I'm a leader in the Black Lives Matter Chapter in South Bend, Indiana and we are calling for Chief Scott Ruszkowski to step down or be fired.
On Father's Day, June 16th, around 3:30 AM in South Bend, Indiana, and in close proximity to my home, South Bend resident and loving father Eric Logan, aged 54, was gunned down by South Bend police officer Ryan O’Neill, a 19-year veteran of the force with a history of racist behavior.
Despite requirements for police officers to serve and protect all members of South Bend, and professional code-of-conduct expectations, O’Neill neglected to activate the use of his body camera on the night he fatally shot Eric Logan (despite the ability to easily do so by pressing a button on his wrist), stirring long-standing racial tensions and distrust between our black communities and the South Bend police force.
Our city, and the nation, watched as Eric Logan’s family and friends grieved the loss of a husband, son, father, brother, uncle, and cherished friend.
Our city, and the nation, watched our black community react in frustration and disbelief, as we’ve demanded accountability, justice, and a change to the reactionary culture of Chief Scott Ruszkowki’s Police Department. A recent survey found very low levels of trust between South Bend's Black community and the South Bend police.
https://www.abc57.com/news/survey-shows-low-trust-in-the-south-bend-police-department
Chief Scott Ruszkowski promoted Officer O’Neill in 2015 despite multiple complaints and a previous investigation of him for a history of Racist comments and derogatory remarks.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/south-bend-officer-shooting-racism-allegations_n_5d09163fe4b0f7b74427a997?
Public record indicates that:
Camera policy: “activate the recorder during all enforcement stops and field interview situations, and any other time the (officer) reasonably believes that a recording of an on-duty contact may be useful.”
https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publicsafety/police-shooting-exposes-limits-of-south-bend-s-body-camera/article_bc7566e3-115e-5be1-a81f-512d9d7de0d3.html
Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated on record in March of 2018 that officers were required to turn on their body cameras.
Chief Scott Ruszkowski knew back in January of this year, 2019, that officers were not activating their body cameras. He has been ineffective at enforcing policy, disciplining his officers and has allowed a culture of racism and fear to permeate our community.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/why-south-bends-police-department-has-become-a-campaign-issue-for-mayor-pete/
Mayor Pete, you stated in front of a crowd of frustrated residents who asked if you indeed believe that Black lives matter and you affirmed them.
You are on record with the following statement:
“I’m not really concerned about optics so much as making sure that the community is headed in the right direction.”
Please, if this is a statement is one you truly believe in; you must demote your appointment, Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski for the continued officer misconduct amongst the South Bend police force and recommend to the Board of Public Safety that he be fired.
The Board of Public Safety acts as the administrative agency for the South Bend Police and Fire Departments. The Board is comprised of five members and the Clerk. The Board of Public Safety has exclusive control over the following:
Adopting policies applicable to the Police and Fire Departments
Adopting general and special orders to the Police and Fire Departments
Approving the employment and training of police officers and firefighters
Swearing in of police officers and firefighters upon completion of training
Disciplinary actions for police officers and firefighters
Approving police and fire coverage to newly annexed or other areas
Board of Public Safety Members:
John Collins, President
Eddie L. Miller, Member
Luther Taylor, Member
Daniel Jones, Member
Linda M. Martin, Clerk
We call on you to affirm that Black Lives Matter and fire Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski.
On Father's Day, June 16th, around 3:30 AM in South Bend, Indiana, and in close proximity to my home, South Bend resident and loving father Eric Logan, aged 54, was gunned down by South Bend police officer Ryan O’Neill, a 19-year veteran of the force with a history of racist behavior.
Despite requirements for police officers to serve and protect all members of South Bend, and professional code-of-conduct expectations, O’Neill neglected to activate the use of his body camera on the night he fatally shot Eric Logan (despite the ability to easily do so by pressing a button on his wrist), stirring long-standing racial tensions and distrust between our black communities and the South Bend police force.
Our city, and the nation, watched as Eric Logan’s family and friends grieved the loss of a husband, son, father, brother, uncle, and cherished friend.
Our city, and the nation, watched our black community react in frustration and disbelief, as we’ve demanded accountability, justice, and a change to the reactionary culture of Chief Scott Ruszkowki’s Police Department. A recent survey found very low levels of trust between South Bend's Black community and the South Bend police.
https://www.abc57.com/news/survey-shows-low-trust-in-the-south-bend-police-department
Chief Scott Ruszkowski promoted Officer O’Neill in 2015 despite multiple complaints and a previous investigation of him for a history of Racist comments and derogatory remarks.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/south-bend-officer-shooting-racism-allegations_n_5d09163fe4b0f7b74427a997?
Public record indicates that:
Camera policy: “activate the recorder during all enforcement stops and field interview situations, and any other time the (officer) reasonably believes that a recording of an on-duty contact may be useful.”
https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publicsafety/police-shooting-exposes-limits-of-south-bend-s-body-camera/article_bc7566e3-115e-5be1-a81f-512d9d7de0d3.html
Chief Scott Ruszkowski stated on record in March of 2018 that officers were required to turn on their body cameras.
Chief Scott Ruszkowski knew back in January of this year, 2019, that officers were not activating their body cameras. He has been ineffective at enforcing policy, disciplining his officers and has allowed a culture of racism and fear to permeate our community.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/why-south-bends-police-department-has-become-a-campaign-issue-for-mayor-pete/
Mayor Pete, you stated in front of a crowd of frustrated residents who asked if you indeed believe that Black lives matter and you affirmed them.
You are on record with the following statement:
“I’m not really concerned about optics so much as making sure that the community is headed in the right direction.”
Please, if this is a statement is one you truly believe in; you must demote your appointment, Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski for the continued officer misconduct amongst the South Bend police force and recommend to the Board of Public Safety that he be fired.
The Board of Public Safety acts as the administrative agency for the South Bend Police and Fire Departments. The Board is comprised of five members and the Clerk. The Board of Public Safety has exclusive control over the following:
Adopting policies applicable to the Police and Fire Departments
Adopting general and special orders to the Police and Fire Departments
Approving the employment and training of police officers and firefighters
Swearing in of police officers and firefighters upon completion of training
Disciplinary actions for police officers and firefighters
Approving police and fire coverage to newly annexed or other areas
Board of Public Safety Members:
John Collins, President
Eddie L. Miller, Member
Luther Taylor, Member
Daniel Jones, Member
Linda M. Martin, Clerk
We call on you to affirm that Black Lives Matter and fire Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski.
Why is this important?
The first ever Black Chief of Police Darryl Boykins was removed due to an alleged Department of Justice (DOJ) federal investigation into the South Bend Police Department in 2012.
The current Chief of Police, Scott Ruszkowski has failed in disciplining and removing racist officers from the South Bend police force.
We believe Chief Ruszowski's inaction should be removed from office immediately.
#BlackLivesMatter
The current Chief of Police, Scott Ruszkowski has failed in disciplining and removing racist officers from the South Bend police force.
We believe Chief Ruszowski's inaction should be removed from office immediately.
#BlackLivesMatter