In 2019, the City of South Bend tasked 21CP with conducting an assessment of the South Bend Police Department, focusing on six primary areas. 21CP developed a comprehensive report of recommendations for reform that can serve as an immediate roadmap for improvement.
The areas of focus included: (1) Use of Force & De-Escalation; (2) Body-Worn Cameras; (3) Bias-Free Policing; (4) Accountability; (5) Community Engagement & Participation; and (6) Officer Well-Being, Recruitment, Retention & Developing the Narrative.
21CP worked to provide the City with forward-looking recommendations for how SBPD can strengthen and improve its operations, procedures, and approaches in those areas. The goal was to provide detailed, pragmatic recommendations for how the Department can address challenges and leverage opportunities in the future. 21CP released the report to South Bend’s Mayor, City Council, and Community in July of 2020.