§ 2-124. Addressing retirement gifts for public safety personnel.

(a)

The City of South Bend, Indiana believes that a retirement gift policy for sworn members of the Police Department and Fire Department respectively is a fitting tribute of appreciation for the dedicated service provided to the City by such individuals.

(b)

Upon retirement with twenty (20) or more years of service to the City of South Bend, Indiana, a sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department shall be entitled to retain as his or her own personal property, the fire helmet used by such Firefighter immediately prior to giving notice of his or her retirement.

(c)

Upon retirement with twenty (20) or more years of service to the City of South Bend, Indiana, a sworn member of the South Bend Police Department shall be entitled to retain as his or her own personal property, the Department issued weapon or sidearm which said sworn member was using immediately used prior to giving notice of retirement.

(d)

The appropriate Board(s) of the City of South Bend shall make a specific determination that said retiring Firefighter or Police Officer seeking to retain said helmet or said weapon/sidearm is retiring in good standing, and that his or her proposed retirement gift is determined to be surplus property and no longer useful to the City.

(e)

The respective Pension Board of each department is hereby authorized to make appropriate determinations and settle disputes on issues which may arise concerning the award of such retirement gifts for service to the City of South Bend.

(f)

In those limited instances where a sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department or a sworn member of the South Bend Police Department incur a career-ending injury in the line of duty, said sworn member may request to keep his or her own separate property the item which they would have received if he or she would have worked twenty (20) or more years.

(Ord. No. 7847-88, § 1; Ord. No. 8570-95, § 1)