St. Joseph County renews Interlocal Agreement

South Bend, Ind -- South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski and St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter announced the renewal of an inter-local agreement.

The agreement includes the harmonization of the homicide unit, drug investigation unit, and special investigations unit to work together to prevent and solve crimes.

Cotter says the county has to protect the those who are most vulnerable in the community.

“We have to insure that those who are killed in our community -- whether by violence or by drug overdose, those who are most vulnerable, out children, or victims of domestic violence, or victims of sexual assault are investigated to the best of our abilities,” says Cotter.

The units involved have been working together already, but this agreement makes things official.

South Bend will contribute 13 officers to this effort and make a cash contribution of up to $308,000.

When asked what metrics would be used to judge if this agreement is working, Buttigieg said, “From our perspective, the biggest thing for us is simply whether the community is getting safer, that's at the end of the day what a mayor is held accountable for and what a police department is responsible for doing.”  

The agreement will be filed with the South Bend City Council on Wednesday and voted on Monday.

If the vote is passed, the St. Joseph County Council will be responsible for approving it.