This meeting is being transcribed.

This meeting is being transcribed and summarized.

Go ahead and call our meeting into order.

Commissioner Phipps, can you mute me?

Are you on two different devices?

We go on two different devices.

So feedback cover.

Okay, yes.

Hold up just for a moment.

Can you hear me well now?

Yes, we can.

All right.

So go ahead and start with our roll call.

Um, Commissioner Culver.

I'm here.

Commissioner Burris.

Present.

Commissioner Randall.

Present.

Commissioner Phipps.

Present.

And Commissioner Calvert is present.

Uh so we do have a quorum.

Um, go ahead and move in to agenda item number three, which is adoption of minutes.

Uh, these are from our April or excuse me, our March uh twenty sixth meeting.

Um, has everyone had an opportunity to review those on just for a moment if I can review it for two minutes real quick.

Yeah, no problem.

I'm sorry, we didn't have a meeting last month.

That's right.

It was canceled.

Correct.

Okay, we can I'm I'm good if everyone else is.

All right.

So any additions or corrections to be made.

All right.

Hearing none, I will entertain a motion to adopt the minutes as printed.

I second the motion.

All right.

Those in favor.

Those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

Hearing none.

All right.

We do not have any presentations for today.

Um so we're moving into new business.

Well, years past we have done the million father march.

And um, you know, that's kind of been one of the signature events of the commission for the last few years.

Um, so I just kind of wanted to put that on our radar uh just to see if that's something that we would be interested in doing again as a commission for 2026.

Um, and identifying some schools as well.

Um so I'll open the floor up for discussion on that.

Yes, I I believe uh this is Commissioner Phipps.

I believe that we should move to continue those efforts on um being at the same schools.

I do know that with one of the commissioners no longer with us, Commissioner Collins will have to have someone that would be able to be at that school when we have uh different commissioners in mind to go out and represent uh on those days.

So um I I believe it helps challenge.

I think we should have more engagement.

Uh uh, where we can put out more information on what our mission is at those locations.

I know we have those pledge cards, but uh, think we should start being proactive and and seeing what we can do to be more proactive in our community without reinventing the will.

So having more contact information or resources when we are out there because I noticed that we have fathers that come, but we also have other parents that may be in alignment of our mission uh where we want to provide them some resources while we're out there, so it's not just an every year thing that we do we can add on to the objective to make it a better mission or to serve the purpose of our commission throughout the year.

All right.

Well, thank you for that, and we'll definitely take it under advisement, see what we can come up with.

Um, you know, in terms of material that additional material that we may be able to get out, even at a minimum if it's just our meeting schedule.

Um something along the lines of that.

Um, I know and there has also been discussion.

Um, you know, on the commission about um holding various sessions at different schools, listening sessions and things of that nature.

Um, so that may be something worthwhile to uh circle back to and uh see what kind of programming we may be able to develop around that as well.

Um is that kind of along the lines of what you know you were thinking about, Commissioner Phipps?

Yes, as long as we're not reinventing the will with organizations that do have similar grants that are going on where we can just partner with them and let our presence be made known through that more so definitely would agree with that, not reinventing the will but partnering where we can to maximize resources.

Um, we want to let you know the schools that we did last year.

Yes, if you will.

Okay, um, you were at Lincoln, Glenwood Leadership Academy, Lodge, AIS, and Washington.

And I think the first full day will be August the 7th for all kids, Friday, August 7th.

Okay, okay.

So is anyone have any other schools they would like us to reach out to outside of AIS, uh Glenwood Lodge or Washington?

We may probably make the parents maybe in the hospital school.

Okay.

Can we order shirts for the commissioners again?

Through any funding that may be underneath we'll we'll look at the feasibility of getting that done.

Okay.

So anything else on the million father market?

Oh, on the budget, all right.

So we want to move into our um old business uh with the uh strategic plan update.

Um I do believe there is there has been a bid placed out.

Yes, yes, we might be able to have um we do have a contract that is working its way through the process, um, and we anticipate starting sessions with the advisory boards in July.

Um we are just a little bit behind, uh so we'll start with the Human Relations Commission and then the Social Status Commission.

So initially we thought we would uh this this advisory board would start the process in July, it may be pushed out until August.

Um so that's uh that's where we are with that, but uh it's exciting um uh to be able to have the opportunity.

I you know, I I can remember there was one other strategic plan that uh we did do uh it was many many years ago uh so I think it's um you know time that this is done again for for this commission so is that Commissioner Skyler Rough that just yes sir it is yeah I'm I mean I will say that I am looking for the way I will say that I am to the um the uh to having the planning session um you know so I think it'll help us to come up with a cohesive plan across you know all of the advisory boards and you know that fall with under the HRC um you know and kind of connect us a little more with each other uh you know so we can be more um I guess the word would be strategic uh you know in our work and um you know moving to the sound of one drum so definitely looking forward to that um anybody else have anything to add to that so we will go ahead and I am so sorry I know oh I know we canceled our meeting last month uh there was a couple of items that we were supposed to have on the agenda of last mob that are not on there.

This is the same agenda that we had last month.

But last month okay all right okay but yeah if you do think of them uh you know if there is something specific that you would like to add on um please you know send an email um you know to myself and the uh support staff and we'll be sure to get that onto our agenda for the next month um all right so um um agenda item b under old business of the uh police and community relations and community relations I know that's kind of been an ongoing discussion discussion you know on the commission um commission and at the end of our meeting in March uh March uh Angie Watson uh was here someone that told her that our meeting time was at four o'clock and we had already adjourned um before she before she got here and I was actually hope thought she was going to be here this month um to uh you know make the same presentation on the record um but there is another group of individual uh collective you know NAACP and a few other organizations um that were that are planning an event nearly identical to what we've been talking about doing um in terms of the police and community relations and uh you know part of the discussion that I had with her after that was um you know looking to see how we could partner um you know to keep the conversation ongoing and uh you know have regular check ins with the community just to get some feedback and uh you know see how see how we may no need to change how we're navigating through um you know the the issue um I believe the event they have planned is I'm not sure the exact date, but I'll get that and send it out to everyone um but I do know they have a number of speakers planned um already from uh you know various law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor um I believe uh judge Uh Hatfield is actually going to be on the panel as well.

Um and uh so you'll definitely be looking for something to come out, you know, on that.

And again, you know, it's a conversation, you know, that we can continue amongst ourselves to see how um, you know, we would like to, you know, join in in that effort.

Um again, you know, it's a commissioner Phipps' point of not necessarily reinventing the wheel, but uh, you know, partnering doing more uh collaborative work um, you know, with uh you know other organizations within the community.

Um anything on else on that I'd like to add or have to share.

So we'll move into uh community gun violence.

Um Commissioner uh Culver.

Uh we'll open the floor for you, sir.

Yes, sir.

Uh uh I want to say, hey, how's it going?

Um, so I didn't bring the numbers from last month.

I just thought um I do have the numbers, I just didn't br uh bring them.

Um could you get closer to your mic?

You're kind of faint.

Can you hear me now?

Not really.

Can you hear me now?

Yes, that's much better.

Thank you.

Okay.

Yeah, yes.

So um uh so I didn't bring the numbers uh for last month.

Um, you know, we wanted to move forward.

So I do have the numbers for this month, and I'll share a little extra um uh one once I get the numbers.

So for the month of May, from May first to the twenty eighth, which is today, we had a total of fifty six runs uh from shock fire runs.

Now granted some of them it came out of shots fire runs, and uh it's up to the officer to change it to a fireworks, because I know like we're in the month of uh we're in the month of May and July is right around the corner and they are um they are popping up fireworks as we speak um just all all times of the day.

Um with and without ordinance.

I know some of those runs, especially around this time of the end of the year, uh some of those shots fire runs can be mistaken as uh uh fireworks and vice versa.

Um so we had fifty six runs for for for the month, and uh seventeen of those runs generated a case number, which meaning that uh those, you know, those are actual uh they you know somebody either got shot or shots were fine, we found casings or um all the above.

So um uh and I want to say on uh the twentieth of this month I was involved in a run where uh I came out as a stolen vehicle.

I want to say it was around 530 is when a run came out.

Uh so on the 20th of this month around 5 30.

Uh there was a run where it was on the south side.

Um I want to say it started somewhere near Blackford.

Yeah, I want to say it started somewhere near Blackford.

I'm not I'm I'm not sure the uh the blog number, but it started around Blackford where uh stolen vehicle in progress came out and got said his car j he just went in the house, ran in the house, came out three minutes later, his car was gone.

And uh we ended up tracking the car down.

Um we uh tried to pull the car over, the car didn't want to stop.

Uh so county joined in and county tried to stop the car.

Um and a pursuit ensued from there and the car ended up wrecking.

I'm not sure if y'all seen the picture on Facebook where there was a Kia stole, white Kia stole on the front porch of somebody's uh somebody's house him.

Um from there, two younger uh African American males jumped out.

Um and we tr we were able to find one.

Um but the other one we we still haven't found, and even me talking to the juvenile, uh he was not willing to give up his uh his is the, you know, the guy he was running with.

So um uh and that's that's that's another thing where a lot of these stolen vehicles, some reported and some not reported on the south side where there's juvenile still in vehicles.

Um another uh thing that we're dealing with, especially when it comes to the uh the juveniles and the African Americans, males and females, is um Garmin Park.

Garvin Park has been a huge issue um that we've been dealing with.

Um just all of the above.

I mean dealing with guns and um uh guns, fight-in, um intimidations, uh smoking leagues, all of the above.

So I feel like that's another place where uh where we're not doing any park work where we want to attack it.

And then like I said, I'm doing my uh my part on my end of trying to try to uh get that get that you know taken care of.

Okay, well thank you for sharing that update with us.

Um, kind of ironic you mentioned uh Garvin Park.

Um, it's kind of a good segue into our youth outreach.

And I know there's been a lot of discussion um around the dustable, and with uh Garvin Park being the new host site of that, um, with the current activity uh, you know, that's already taking place there.

What what impact do you think that may have on the event and uh what measures are law enforcement putting in place to make sure it's a safe environment for everyone if you know.

Yeah, can I wanna say that park is uh you know, we need nicely saying, you know, um the mayor putting so much money into that park and for what it's starting to turn into, especially within like you know, the last few months of when it's been open and renovated and all and it it was a beautiful park when it first opened.

Um the neighborhood had high hope and um just talking to the neighborhoods and the neighbors, especially the the people that surround the park.

That is an that is that's that's an issue, it's a big issue now.

Um because we have been to Garmin Park more times than we've been to anywhere.

And uh the people that I deal with mostly are the juveniles and it's African Americans, and females.

So that is that is a huge issue, and um I want to say sometime next week, I want to say the chief and the park director and maybe possibly the mayor.

Um I don't think the email in front of me, but I think the mayor would be meeting sometime next week to try to figure out what can we do before the summer starts.

And I mean we're already here.

Technically the summer isn't here, but school is out, so the kids are out.

So uh that's uh like I say, we're just trying to get a hold of that issue.

We can get a whole lot of issue.

We look we're looking pretty good.

Um because we want to we want to get people a chance to uh go through the park, have fun, and and you know, our job is to take the drugs out of the park and put the kids back in.

Uh Commissioner Phipps, uh, yes.

So um I was gonna ask uh is there any way and and um to just um have that meaningful dialogue with the chief and the mayor to see if they would like our commission to be involved on seeing what we can do to help promote the initiative of uh preventing gun uh well promote awareness of the issues that are going on at Garvin and how to prevent some of the issues with I guess mentors in the community, whether it's organizations that will team up and help support DNIs out at Garvin Park every month, uh because you have organizations that will step up to the plate and say, Hey, let's take a day to spend that Garvin Park for five hours.

You have organizations that will do that.

It's just bringing those organizations right at the table to help do that.

You know, I mean, I wouldn't mind us maybe being the convening organization of bringing everyone together.

Um, if you were recall back in I guess February when uh Sergeant Brewer was here, he actually made mention of a program that EPD operates, and they're looking for uh, you know, community partners to join in.

Um, and so you know that would be a great opportunity, I feel to bring everyone together and uh you know get get the overview of what it is and make the decision of of whether or not it's something that they would like to you know take part in.

Um, um I don't want to speak over anyway.

Um I was just um going to suggest I think it's an you know a great suggestion to be out in the community and being visible uh and perhaps uh doing that at the dust ball might be your you know the first time out uh to come out as uh an organization, just being there, being visible, uh, you know, and just uh supporting what's going on and um yeah, I think that's that would be an ideal time I think for you all to be in Garvin Park.

Absolutely I I would agree no go ahead go ahead I would agree I definitely wouldn't want to publicly say that we're actually in partnership this year though uh yeah I I wouldn't want to I I would say that would I I wouldn't mind being out there to support the initiative but I don't know what's going on this year.

I've done stayed out of the planning this year.

Um as there is a new committee there and uh I just don't know where we can fully actually put our support behind it with so many problems going on there.

We would not want to make and I hate to say this but uh we haven't heard from the organizer yet the state and uh it would be great to have the organizer here but I think this would have been our and that's what I was mentioning about last month agenda add the dust go organizer on there I just totally forgot to remind them that our meeting was canceled last month to move them over this month.

And so but I definitely think we should be out there and support but I as a public announcement of support I wouldn't do it as a commission.

Right and then oh go ahead Commissioner Culver go ahead and commissioner Clover.

So commissioner if it's your question um again you can be in um I can always hey you know the commission wants to be in a meeting could you wait a moment please okay.

All right go ahead.

Can you hear me?

Yes we can hear you.

Yeah so uh what I was saying was that uh that's fine I can reach out to my lieutenant and ask hey you know the commission wants to be in on this meeting but also though like there's things that we can go out and do ourselves like you know you don't have to ask anybody to um to go to a park and talk to these kids and speak with these kids and want to be able to you know be involved with these uh with you know with with the park and what they're doing um you don't have to do that like you know you can just go out and you know and it it's always an you know uh an echo thing to do and you know make sure everybody's on the same line but you don't have to you know you don't have to talk to um EBD or talk to the park to be one to go out there and you know show your support and um go out there and talk to the kids.

Okay that's good to know what um and correct me if I'm wrong Commissioner Phipps but you were coming from the perspective of us actually being a co-sponsor of the event as we had done in the past couple of years.

Is that correct?

Right.

Is that correct?

You want to be sure.

Okay.

Want to be sure.

Okay.

Okay, sorry about that.

Good deal.

Okay as I know um you know part of the discussion was um or has been us not partnering necessarily this year in an official capacity um just because we don't know what the event is actually going to look like with the change of venue and some of the other changes that they've made and we kind of wanted to use this year um to to observe and um you know and hopefully you know in subsequent years uh you know come back on as a partner um in an official capacity um and I think that would probably still be the position of of the majority um and uh you know again if I'm wrong you know let me know that's something we can revisit um but I haven't heard anything differently uh you know since um the initial announcement was made of the change of venue um so um yeah but you know, again, you know, we are free, as Commissioner Culver said, to go um you know, on our own be visible.

And um, you know, and that's something that we have talked about repeatedly.

Um, you know, it's I think it's past time to go ahead and put some feet on that and walk it out and make it a reality.

Um, you know as as a commission, and uh, you know, we bear a lot of responsibility with getting the word out, um, you know, that we that we do exist and what we are doing, and that would be an excellent, excellent venue for us to uh take advantage of and um you know engage with the community.

Um, yes.

Commissioner Cover.

I do want to I know this is a biased topic, but uh with uh talking about the flock safety cameras and uh EPD drones, are those things going to be utilized uh at the park uh during this event, and if so, is there going to be some type of information uh spread up uh in the community to let people know that uh that technology will be used so people don't feel like they're being monitored or watched without their consent or knowledge?

Can you hear me?

Yes, okay.

Yeah, so um, so I highly doubt that would happen.

Um I I highly doubt that'll happen that you know that somebody they you know they'll just let you like you know that that hey cameras are being used.

Um I know one thing I can say is that the Guardian, uh I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Guardian, but the Guardian is up there, and the Guardian has a total of five cameras on it, four to five cameras on it, um and when it becomes a plot cameras, so flock cameras remember uh you know, fly cameras isn't used for uh it's only used for vehicles, it's uh it's only for plates.

Um, you know, I know there's a subject where people uh think their fly camera just watches people all day and watches their house and zoom in like no, we can we there's no way I can possibly use it for that.

Um the only thing it's used for is tags.

Um to answer that question, I highly doubt that somebody uh lets you know that hey, cameras are being used.

I do know that there are a total of four cameras that's already out there.

Um but other than that, no.

The reason I ask is I feel like if uh uh any event something tragic does happen in it, and I hope it doesn't, that at least the youth and uh parents would know that uh their children are being watched and they it is a place where people can feel safe and don't have to worry about anything happening, and if it is that they have that technology to rely on to help, you know, uh help with those uh criminals if so if if anything was to happen.

Right, I understand, you know, especially an event like that, and just any event, you always want to keep the people safe and uh keep make sure everybody goes home at the end of the night.

Um and I know we do got the resources for that.

Um I guess that we get we're gonna have a lot of officers out there.

Um a lot of officers and uh the way uh Sergeant Brewer does it, he's very strategic when it comes to planning things out, kind of like a dustboat which you've done um in the past years.

Uh he's done a very good job at that.

Um we're talking about you know, uh having drones, bicycles.

Um I think there could be a guys on ACDs out there.

Um I'll be there every day.

So, you know, you often let it just be walking around and um so we should be, you know, when it comes to safety and security, we should be squared away on that.

So anything else on the dustbow or youth outreach?

So I do want to ask about um representation.

Diane, do we have any representation without it being the million father march like uh shirts or uh any uh anything that we could possibly hand out that is um that it's year to be commission or even the human relations commission, whether it's bracelets or anything for the families that are out there to let them know we are we are in existence?

Yeah, we don't really have any swag like that swag.

You know, we can you know possibly look at getting something like that.

All right.

Um, you may want to, you may want to I think it's an echo, Commissioner Phipps when you're not muted.

Oh, I'm sorry, that's okay.

Um, um I think that um you we may want to even think a little bit strategically in terms of if we're going to invest in something like that, that it it you know serve uh a wider purpose, a more broad purpose in terms of getting information from the community, you know, maybe we want to um find out what services uh black males would like to uh have or see uh happen in the community, and uh maybe something with a QR code that we ask people to complete a survey so that we can get information, uh so just you know, and as opposed to just you know passing out swag, I mean that's always good, and maybe we do both, but um, you know, I think thinking about that as well, how you can uh get some feedback from from the community because as you can see, this room is empty and there are no people here.

So, you know, if you're going to be boots on the ground, you know, I think the data you always want to have that so that it can, you know, it drives so it can drive the work that you do.

Just a thought.

So I like that.

I like that.

Um actually, can we vote on um on something that would help?

Uh let's say, for example, if I came up with a postcard that would actually be geared to a survey with the QR code to hand out there.

Can we put a prize there, like enter to win or something just to gear them into filling out that survey so we can collect data?

I think we can certainly work on that.

Um, you know, I don't think it's anything you really need to vote on.

Um, I just think we can uh once we know what it is that you want to do and we can uh pull it together and put it together with our small staff.

Um, you know, I think that we could probably do something, um, not on a you know, not a lot of questions, but uh just as a starting point, thank you.

So anything else on that subject?

All right, um, if not, uh, we'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

I second.

Oh, yeah.

Uh do you have the you have the flyer?

I don't want it with me.

I don't either.

Oh, okay.

So are you talking about the fire or the black barbershop initiative?

Yes, uh, it sort of has a new new name, different branding, but um similar missions.

Uh the Evansville men's barbershop initiative and uh as we have discussed in previous meetings, uh the Indiana Civil Rights Commission no longer coordinates that statewide initiative that we were a part of, and but we were you know very concerned about the services continuing in the community, uh and so we did reach out to one of our long-time community partners, the Minority Health Coalition at the Community Action Program, and they have uh taken over the initiative.

So we uh you know we feel like we made a really good transition over to them.

Uh they were just over yesterday.

Uh we gave them all of the supplies that we had, uh, so that their first initiative on June the 13th, uh, you know, is will go smoothly, um, and just been reaching uh working with them on uh the implementation of it.

Um and they did send out an email asking for volunteers, and if you did not get it, it was really based on individuals that volunteered last year, but I can forward it on to all of the commissioners here, and if you're interested in being a volunteer, I know it would be greatly appreciated.

Um so again, it's going to happen on June the thirteenth.

Um as a matter of fact, I did uh provide she asked for logos for social status and so forth.

So on the on the marketing materials, you'll find that your logo is there.

It's what time?

Um I'll have to check the information.

I'll forward it out to everyone, but I know that it's a shorter day than what we had traditionally done.

Um we went from nine until three, and I want to say that there's is maybe ten to two.

It's it's ten to two.

Okay.

So, and it looks like it's the same barbershops that were initially um conducted at in the previous years.

Okay.

Well, thank you for reminding me about that, sharing that update with us.

Um, but yeah, but for those who uh would like to volunteer, um just get that the uh information submitted as soon as possible.

Um, because you know that's two weeks from this Saturday.

Um, so uh you know, that way they'll have an idea of what they'll have in terms of manpower for that day and see what other additional uh resources they may need to to call upon to fill in those gaps.

Um, especially maybe some assistance taking tables and tables and chairs and yeah, because I know that was something we we did ourselves and uh commissioner Phipps last year, uh, you know, took it upon himself to make sure all of those were delivered and picked up.

Um I just want to shout him out for that, uh, complete with pictures at each location to let us know that it was shut down.

Um so again, thank you so much for that.

And um, you know, I imagine they may reach out to uh Deanna at Clover again, possibly, or no, I think they absolutely think Cape has them.

Okay, good deal.

So yeah, they would just come from Kate.

Okay, good deal.

Good deal.

All right, so if nothing else, um there was a motion to adjourn that was made by Commissioner Phipps, I believe, and uh just need a second.

Real quick, this is Commissioner Burris.

Yeah, so I was just um I like the fact uh what Diane said as far as like a QR code with a survey, uh, one of the certifications that I'm working on right now is this AI certification, and I was just playing with AI to see what it could put together as far as like a quick survey, a quick five question survey, and it was able to do that, and then it also gave suggestions for putting this QR code like just as a regular thing and like barbershops, churches, community centers, gyms, things of that nature where we can have people who are in the community that normally go or frequent those areas and having that QR code there with let's say like uh we mentioned our logo with our logo on that and just taking you know two minutes to kind of fill that out and then that feedback getting back to us to see you know what people are actually uh wanting to see more of through the commission or more of through the community.

So anyway, I just want to throw that out there.

We would love to see what you put together.

Absolutely.

So I guess I'll go ahead and take that as the second to adjourn as well.

Those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Those opposed?

Aye.

All right.

I will see you all uh next month and we'll definitely be in touch before then.

All right.

Have a good evening.