Board of Public Safety Draft

Board of Public Safety, Fire Merit Commission, and Police Merit Board

The South Bend Board of Public Safety, South Bend Fire Department Merit Commission, and South Bend Police Department Merit Board are public bodies created by Indiana statutes and local ordinances to oversee various aspects of the South Bend Fire Department and South Bend Police Department and their sworn personnel.  Each meets monthly and adheres to the Open Door Law for public meeting requirements.  These bodies play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of South Bend's public safety departments.

Fire Merit Board Resolution

Police Merit Board Resolution

Board of Public Safety

The South Bend Board of Public Safety operates under the authority granted by Indiana Code § 36-8-3-2. This Board is responsible for overseeing the general policies and procedures of both the South Bend Fire Department and the South Bend Police Department.  In 2025, the Board of Public Safety relinquished its authority to the Fire Merit Commission and Police Merit Board regarding the areas of recruitment and hiring, promotions and demotions, and disciplinary actions.  However, it retained its authority granted under state law including approval of duty manual policy changes, approval of collective bargaining agreements, receipt of departmental reports, and overseeing matters related to the property of the departments, among other responsibilities.

Meetings

The Board regularly meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month at 9:15am, or as otherwise needed.  Meeting specifics can be found in the current agenda below:

Current and past agendas, meeting recordings, and minutes can be viewed at the following link:

The Board is comprised of five members and the Clerk. Each Board member is appointed by the Mayor, and serves an indefinite term.

Board of Public Safety Members:

• Daniel Jones, President (appointed January 15, 2014)
• Darryl Heller, Member (appointed December 14, 2020)
• Lee Ross, Member (appointed October 6, 2021)
• Alfred Kirsits, Member (appointed January 18, 2022)
• Pamela Claeys, Member (appointed January 18, 2023)
• Hillary Horvath, Clerk

To contact the Board of Safety directly with your questions or concerns, please email the following address: bps@southbendin.gov

South Bend Fire Department Merit Commission

The South Bend Fire Department Merit Commission operates under the authority of Indiana Code § 36-8-3.5 and consists of five members, with two elected by the active members of the South Bend Fire Department, one appointed by the Common Council, and two appointed by the Mayor. The Commission is responsible for selection and hiring of firefighters, approval of promotions and demotions, and approval of disciplinary actions or dismissal of firefighters.  To this end, it has adopted rules and regulations to ensure all personnel actions are fair, transparent, and based on merit.

The Fire Merit Commission is comprised of five members and the Clerk:

• Dan Jones, President (elected by members of the department; current term: April 2, 2025 through April 2, 2029)
• Kenneth Marks, Vice President (appointed by the Common Council; current term: April 4, 2025 through April 4, 2029)
• John Pinter, Secretary (appointed by Mayor; current term: March 3, 2025 through March 3, 2029)
• Vacant Member (elected by members of the department; serves an initial term of 2 years)
• Vacant Member (appointed by Mayor; serves an initial term of 2-years)
• Hillary Horvath, Acting Clerk

Meetings

The Fire Merit Commission regularly meets on the 1^st Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m., or as otherwise needed.  Meeting specifics can be found in the current agenda below:

Current and past agendas and minutes can be viewed at the following link:

South Bend Police Department Merit Board

The South Bend Police Merit Board was created under the authority of South Bend Municipal Code Ordinance No. 11165-24. This board is responsible for the selection and hiring of police officers, as well as promotions and demotions and approval of disciplinary action or dismissal of officers. The Police Merit Board consists of five members, with two elected by the active members of the South Bend Police Department, one appointed by the Common Council, and two appointed by the Mayor.  The Police Merit Board ensures that all personnel actions are based on merit and made in accordance with the rules established by the Board.

The Police Merit Board is comprised of five members and the Clerk:

• Dan Jones, President (elected by members of the department; current term: May 2, 25 through May 2, 2027)
• Pamela Claeys, Vice President (appointed by Mayor; current term: March 3, 2025 through March 3, 2027)
• Brantley Taylor, Secretary (appointed by Common Council; current term: April 9, 2025 through April 9, 2030)
• Eugene Eyster, Member (elected by members of the department; current term: May 2, 2025 through May 2, 2030)
• Ray Owens, Member (appointed by Mayor; current term: March 13, 2025 through March 13, 2030)
• Hillary Horvath, Acting Clerk

Meetings

The Police Merit Board regularly meets on the 1^st Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m., or as otherwise needed.  Meeting specifics can be found in the current agenda below:

Current and past agendas and minutes can be viewed at the following link: