BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2004
The next meeting will be September 2nd, 2004 at Chase School, 2021 N. Point at 7:00 pm.
Officers Present: SGT Giambrone, PO Muniz of Community Policing, Liz Rios among others.
SGT Giambrone introduced the meeting highlighting certain police arrests and responses of some of our Beat officers. Section 1 was reported as having a continued aggressive police presence.
A guest speaker specializing in youth gang intervention was present to answer questions regarding gang symbols. Handouts were also available including descriptions of the symbols, colors and creeds of the various gangs divided into the two main groups of "People" and "Folks" (useful reference 1995 Chicago Crime Commission Gang Book. Active gangs in our Beat 1431 include the Latin Lovers, Cobras, and MLDs (Maniac Latin Disciples). Another recommended online resource that includes a photo library of the numerous Chicago street gang tags and signs can be found here (www.chicagohoodz.com)
SECTION 1
1) Despite SGT Giambrone's report of aggressive police activity in this area, it is still being plagued with daily gang loitering, drinking and drug activity.
2) Problem areas include drug dealing between Stave and Bingham, especially the lot at 2060 Bingham and adjacent property. Plastic baggies have been seen scattered around this area daily.
3) Street racing of motorcycles was reported on Stave and Bingham during the evenings from 7pm - 11pm. These delinquents have been consistently seen loitering at 2064 Bingham.
4) There was a fire bombing of a Chevrolet Suburban on Bingham around 5am over a weekend.
5) Police have maintained an aggressive car ticketing campaign in this section.
action:SGT Giambrone underscored the importance of witnesses to illegal activity to offer extreme detail especially as it relates to the transferring of drugs. Drugs are being placed in crumpled paper and tossed on the street or in garbage carts to avoid detection. Please try to include in your calls a descriptive identification of the person throwing/exchanging the drugs and where the drugs end up (if thrown).
SECTION 2
1) Positive reports were made of the new crowd control policies the Congress Theater has put into place. (view policies presented to CAPS attendees last month under SECTION 2)
2) At Palmer and Campbell, young males reportedly flashed a gun at another individual questioning if they had a gang affiliation.
action: Both Police and Alderman's attention should stay focused on seeing that the new Congress Theater strategies are consistently adhered to and diminish the overall impact the events have in our neighborhood.
SECTION 3
1) The area behind Mid America Bank has been a recent sanctuary for drinking and drug use.
action: Police and Alderman to address this issue as it is related to continued requests to confront Danny's Liquors of selling to addicts.
SECTION 4
1) Thursday, July 15th, at 10:45pm several gun shots were fired East and West at the intersection of Belden and Talman avenues including the Goethe School playground while children and residents were present. Surprisingly, no one was injured during the shooting, however, several bullets hit the car of a resident returning home.
Alderman Flores and Commander Avila of the 14th District were made aware of this continued pattern of gun violence in the area centralized at Goethe School. Jim Rhodes reported that Commander Avila has sent a request for a police camera for this particular area.
Community Police Officer Muniz adamantly interjected that the Commander simply filed a request and that there are no promises that such a camera will be provided. The consensus of the police officers present was that there was little if any chance of a police camera being granted to our area. Despite the consistent reported gang and gun violence at Goethe School, our area is considered much less of a problem than other areas in the 14th District and the number of calls and reports of criminal activity remain minimal.
A resident questioned one police officer whether a shooting death of a child in the Goethe School playground would make a stronger case for a police camera and the officer agreed that it would.
2) An individual (or individuals) in a white SUV has been seen on Rockwell and Talman avenues around Goethe School dealing drugs.
3) Resident currently running a summer basketball program in the Goethe Playground reported that the area gang members have been respectful of a non-loitering agreement at the playground from 3:30pm - 9pm while the basketball rims are up.
4) Resident reported that dog owners were not respecting the curbing signs clearly posted on the Goethe School campus.
action: Gang activity and gun violence remains a consistent problem. 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. Garbage has been piling up outside and the late night noise and activity remains a major nuisance.
2) Drug sales remain a problem on Campbell including the lobby of 2451 Campbell.
3) A fire bombing occurred behind Tile Outlet during the last weekend of July.
4) Still no progress has been reported on the Derek Tate, Jr., murder on June 6, 2003 at Fullerton and Artesian. Again, Area 5 officers were not present to provide their promised update on the case.
action: Alderman to maintain pressure on Missala. Police to monitor gang loitering on Artesian and continued activity on Campbell.
Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) The 2000 block of Bingham and Stave, involving gangs and drugs 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) Gang gun violence at Goethe School.
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.
