Staffing is up and shootings are down, South Bend still sees rise in youth violence

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Bend Police Department (SBPD) is reporting they are fully staffed for the first time since before the pandemic, public trust is on the rise along with community engagement and shooting deaths and crime are down.

But amid the positive news, too much of today’s crime is coming from and happening to young people.

Overall, crime seems to be trending down in South Bend, but Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski is not celebrating as long as violence persists.

“Analytically, it is celebratory. But from one human being witness what’s happening to other human beings is not celebratory,” Ruszkowski said.

But still, the department is fully staffed for the first time since before the pandemic.

“We were short staffed and just running from call to call, people took notice,” said South Bend Mayor James Mueller. “It was kind of a free for all.”

Traffic stops have increased 84.4 percent since just the beginning of this year.

“The availability of officers to be out doing things, whether it’s missions or simply parking their car and walking through neighborhoods, talking to people, talking to businesses, those relationships are then established,” Ruszkowski said.

Shootings are also down, SBPD reported, with a 41 percent decrease in shooting victims through September compared to the previous four years.

However, so much of the crime in the city seems to involve its youngest members.

“We’re seeing a rise in crimes with juveniles. When I say juveniles, I’m going to say anyone under the age of 18,” said SBPD Lieutenant Kayla Miller.

Local outreach leaders, like Lety Stanton-Verduzco, director of mission integration for the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County (BGCSJC), are noticing a similar trend.

“We are absolutely seeing that, with the youth in our community,” she said. “We’re seeing it younger and younger.”

BGCSJC is working to expand its youth violence prevention efforts.

“Kids don’t want to be bored,” Stanton-Verduzco said. “Kids don’t want to be out there doing things that they’re not supposed to be doing. By providing these different programs, the space, positive role models to really help guide them, then we’re setting them up to be productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

Partnering with the local youth outreach LLC, Connect 2 B the Change, BGCSJC is launching its free open gym nights this week.

“This is a way for us to really get kids in the door, surround them with positive adults, opportunities, and give them something to do that engages them, that is fun, and it’s something they actually want,” she said.

And it’s not just sports!

“More than just basketball,” Stanton-Verduzco said. “Video games, arts and crafts, cooking, food. Teens like to eat.”

Those free open gym nights start this Friday.

Plus, BGCSJC is still set to open its brand-new teen center here in South Bend in early December.