BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
July 1, 2004

The next meeting will be August 5th, 2004 at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California at 7:00 pm.

Officers Present: SGT Giambrone, PO Romero, PO Muniz of Community Policing, PO Sackett, among others.

SECTION 1
1) This section is still being plagued with daily gang loitering, drinking and drug use.
2) Problem houses including 2101 and 2133 Bingham are being investigated by the 14th District.
3) Residents on Chamay reported daily drinking and loitering incidents.
4) JJ Morgan, a well-known delinquent in the area, has been seen driving at dangerous speeds on Bingham and neighboring streets. Residents are fearful of pedestrian safety, especially with children playing in the neighborhood.
action: Police and residents maintain current proactive vigil. Residents should continue calling 911.

SECTION 2
1) Four representatives for the Congress Theater presented several new strategies that are being used to manage the crowds that patronize their venue and impact our neighborhood. Additionally, one of these representatives promised to attend our subsequent monthly CAPS meetings.
The following new procedures will be implemented at Congress Theater events:
a) A vehicle will patrol the neighborhood around the theater calling the police with any witnessed illegal activity.
b) A garbage detail will be responsible for picking up the garbage around the theater during the performance.
c) During and after the performance the following phone number: 773-491-1879 can be called by neighborhood residents to report any problems related to the event.
d) The theater will allow patrons to use the restrooms in the theater in order to diminish the pressure and abuse neighboring businesses endure for use of their facilities.
e) More security personnel will be placed at the front entrance of the theater.
f) No beverage containers of any kind will be allowed outside the theater.
2) The 1st Ward Alderman's office will be posting signs in the Goethe Elementary School campus displaying the park hours. The signs will also be placed in a position that deters vandalism, which has been a problem with such signs in the past.
action: Both Police and Alderman's attention should stay focused on seeing that the new Congress Theater strategies are effective and diminish the overall impact the events have in our neighborhood.

SECTION 3
1) The Domino's Pizza parking lot on Fullerton has reportedly been accommodating a number of cars with "For Sale" signs.
2) An arrest for battery was reportedly made on Medill over the past month.
action: The police will stop Domino's Pizza to investigate the legality and extent of the potentially illegal use of property to sell cars.

SECTION 4
1) The integrity of the reports of the incident on June 2nd involving an altercation between rival gangs at the Goethe School was questioned by SGT Giambrone, who stated that no 911 calls were recorded and news of the incident were reported secondhand. Despite the fact that gun violence and gang activity has been a consistent, known and recurring problem in the area, residents are advised that firsthand reports and 911 calls are the best way to verify and record the validity of reported crimes.
2) Friday, 6/11 at approximately 9:30pm, several young males were seen shooting fireworks off in the middle of Talman between Medill and Belden (across from Goethe school park). Police responded quickly and were able to disperse the delinquents with potential arrests.
3) Early Saturday morning, 6/19 at 1:15am at least 5 gun shots were heard fired from a moving car at Belden and Talman, next to the Goethe Elementary School. Additional reports from residents involved additional cars and possibly more shooting. Several 911 calls were made by neighborhood residents.
action: Police need to monitor gang activity in this area. Weekday late afternoon and early evenings, and weekend evenings seem to draw increased activity.

SECTION 5 & 6
1) Missala (corner "restaurant" at Fullerton and Rockwell) remains under investigation.
2) 2440 Campbell has been catering to a couple known delinquent brothers, seen drinking and loitering in the street.
3) Drug sales have been reported in the lobby of 2451 Campbell.
4) The MLDs (Maniac Latin Disciple gang) have been active in this area.
5) No progress has been reported on the Derek Tate, Jr., murder on June 6, 2003 at Fullerton and Artesian. Area 5 officers were not present to provide their promised update on the case.
action: Police to monitor gang loitering on Artesian and activity on Campbell.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) The 2000 block of Bingham, and now Chamay, continue to require persistent police attention.
2) Gang activity: all sections in BEAT 1431 are seeing persistent levels of gang activity, especially in sections 1, 4, and 6.
3) Residents should continue to call 911 and are encouraged to establish phone trees to increase the number of 911 calls.


DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPs volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.