BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2005

The next meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2005, 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: PO Janus, PO Trempe, PO Ortiz, PO Rodriguez from Community Policing, PO Brownlee

General Announcements

1) Please join the community walk scheduled by Rev. Dan Wood of the Fourth Congregational Church for Friday the 15th at 6:30pm meeting at the corner of Bingham and Francis. Attendance is strongly needed to help send a positive message to the residents of section 1.
2) According to Citizen ICAM results over the last month, Beat 1431 had 16 reported crimes. For comparison, our neighboring Bucktown Beat 1434 suffered 34 reported crimes (the majority being property related).
The 14th District Beat
3) It is very important to insist that a police officer write a report of a crime. Reports can be reviewed by our Beat officers, providing a summary of events that are occuring in our area as well as providing important statistical information. There was a shooting on Stave during June and according to our Beat 1431 officers, no report was filed indicating that this crime occured. Residents can insist that the police offers they call write a report for the incidents.
4) The number of 911 calls directly influences the the likelihood that our Beat will receive targeted police missions. Police have been heavily relying upon the Deployment Operations Center (DOC) which uses the Geographic Information System (GIS) that organizes crime data around the areas reported. Police missions are then directed in the areas the DOC chooses based upon statistical analysis. The basic understanding is, the more calls to service in an area, the more likely the police will receive a DOC mission to target the particular area.
5) Rev. Dan Wood of the Fourth Congregational Church announced there will be a "community-led service of blessing" for the 14th District Chicago Police Department. The event will be held Thursday, July 28th at 7pm at the Fourth Congregational Church at 2625 N. Talman (between Logan and Schubert). Community residents are invited to attend, there will be a BBQ following the service.
6) The Fourth Congregational Church will also be hosting "Lawn Chair Thursday Nights - 7pm" from July 14th through September 1st. Local residents are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs to enjoy music and to meet fellow neighbors.

SECTION 1
1) Gang loitering, drug transactions, car vandalism, and property tagging are a continuing problem on the 2100 block of Bingham and residents are frustrated at the apparent lack of police presence despite numerous requests.
2) 1431 Community Policing failed to organize a resident requested police roll call during the month of June.
3) Drug transactions have been witnessed by residents behind the ACE Hardware on Milwaukee. The exchanges are being made at all hours of the day.
4) The owner of the property at 2113 Bingham has been filed with numerous building code violations.
5) The basement of 2074 Stave has been reportedly used for drug sales over the past month.
6) A shooting was reported on the 2000 block of Stave one evening during June between 9-10pm.
action: Police attention is desperately needed in this section. Residents also deserve the police roll call they were promised in June by the Beat 1431 Sgt. Nieves. Residents must continue the 911 calls to increase the number of calls of service to the area to increase the chances for targeted police activity.

SECTION 2
1) Anthony Jones (reported May 8th as involved with a shooting at 2206 N. Campbell) has been arrested along with Alexander Scott for dealing marijuana. Scott was caught in possesion of a gun which adds to his existing gun carrying record. Police assured us that Scott will be off the streets for a long time.
action: Police and residents to maintain attention on gang drug activity in this section.

SECTION 3 & 4
1) Geothe Elementary and neighboring properties were tagged several times last month, however, police caught two of the vandals. One vandal was from an outside gang called the Orchestra Albany Gang. The other was a local "artist" residing on the 2100 block of Dickens who has been using acid to etch glass on the windows of properties in the neighborhood.
2) Loitering involving drinking and known gang members continues to be a problem behind the Goethe Elementary School Annex in front of the diagonal parking on Talman, under the cover of the overhanging tree branches at Talman and Lyndale.
action: Residents are encouraged to call 911 for any activity that seems suspicious or if there are unknown people loitering around their properties.

SECTION 5
1) A resident informed the police in attendance of her displeasure in being wrongly pulled over and harrassed by a police officer. Beat officers mentioned that police officer harrassment can be reported to the Office of Professional Standards. For more information on this department, see "What you can do" at the Human Rights Watch site.
2) The former gang member residing at 2426 N. Washtenaw has apparently moved out according to beat police.
3) Ivan Morales and Marcelino Ferrar were arrested at Haas Park for possession of marijuana. PO Trempe will forward the court date for these arrests to the community this month to encourage neighborhood attendance. These 2 criminals were not charged with drug possession near a playground which greatly increases the criminal offense. This may still be an option during the trial.
4) The drug dealer residing at 2448 N. Rockwell apparently is "back in action" after being arrested last month.
action: Police and residents to maintain attention on gang drug activity in this section.

SECTION 6
1) Numerous residents were in attendance reporting their concern for the amount of homeless congregating around Logan Boulevard and the former Avondale Avenue (Avondale Avenue is now Logan Blvd as well). Residents have called 911, 311 and the Department of Human Services numerous times in attempts to disperse the homeless. Criminal activity has increased in the area the homeless have been congregating including frequent car break-ins on Logan Blvd, drug activity and graffiti.
2) Rev. Dan Wood of the Fourth Congregational Church is in contact with Ald. Colon assisting with solutions for the increased homeless situation in this area.
3) Known drug dealer Ricky Fisher has been seen loitering near Tile Outlet along with the Cheerios gang.
action: Department of Human Services and Police need to assist in dispersing the homeless in this area which seems to be attracting criminal activity. Residents should continue making 911 calls to service for criminal activity to help increase the severity for police attention.

Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gangs and drug activity in Section 1 remains a consistent problem.
2) Gang loitering at Goethe Elementary.
3) Homeless congregation, Cheerios gang and drug activities in Sections 6.
4) 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.