SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Recorded phone conversations at the South Bend Police Department have been part of an ongoing legal battle, ever since the South Bend Common Council tried to have the tapes released to the public more than a decade ago.

The questions being litigated: were the tapes recorded legally, and can they be released to the public?

Now, a bench trial is scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 9, in a court fight which started in 2012.

Before trial, let's rewind, to give you the whole story from the beginning.

Cassette tapes are at the center of the years-long South Bend court battle, containing recordings of conversations between South Bend police officers. The content of the conversations is unknown, but it's alleged they include racist comments. This caused concern and conjecture to run ra

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