BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
December 1, 2005
The next meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2006, 7:00 pm at Nazareth Church, 2500 N. California.
Officers Present: LT Bocian, PO Trempe, PO Strazzante, PO Brownlee and PO Rios of Community Policing
General Announcements
As noted last month, burglaries and property theft increase during the holiday season. Our Beat 1431 suffered an increase in property crimes this past month to 44 cases compared to 40 cases last month according to the Citizen ICAM. Please be mindful of locking gates, closing window blinds and not leaving items of value in plain site to deter potential thefts. Finally, please be mindful of your surroundings when walking or jogging wearing headphones.
LT Bocian announced that there is a new feature at the Chicago Police Department web site that allows the public to query license plates to determine if a car has been or is scheduled to be towed/impounded or if the car has been stolen. You can access this service at http://www.chicagopolice.org/vehicles/
SECTION 1
1) 2062 Bingham continues to remain a sanctuary for drug dealing in this section. A criminal named "Carlos" has been seen dealing drugs out of his car parked in front of this problem property.
2) The property at 2064 Stave was set ablaze and badly damaged. The fire department identified the cause of the fire to be arson and the investigation is ongoing.
3) There was a burglary at 2151 Stave, however, the burglar was caught in the act by 1431 officers. The burglar was also connected with a previous burglary to a property. The criminal was charged with multiple felonies.
4) "Tank", a heavy set Latino neighborhood delinquent who has been charged with a criminal sexual offense has been seen in a white van with brown stripes at 2113 Bingham.
5) There were 3 drug arrests this past month for this section.
action: Bingham and Stave streets remain a consistent area of reported criminal activity and require continued police attention and calls to 911.
SECTION 2
1) 1st Ward Alderman Manny Flores has requested to see the contract Congress Theater has with Chase Elementary School to use the school's parking lot to handle overflow parking for concerts. Residents and police have complained that cars are haphazardly parked in the school, oftentimes overhanging pedestrian sidewalks.
SECTION 3
1) A representative from Danny's Liquors reported that they are continuing to disperse the homeless from the premises.
2) A drug arrest was made at 2202 Rockwell. Police seized 580 grams of cocaine, over $7000 in cash, a scale and a shotgun.
action: Danny's Liquors to continue to disperse homeless congregating around premises.
SECTION 4
1) At around 2am on November, 8th, MLD graffiti vandalized the property at Belden and Talman. Nearby Blockbluster on Milwaukee was also tagged both on the side and rear of the establishment.
2) Early morning November 30th, a van parked on Belden near Talman had all it's windows smashed, likely gang related.
action: Police and residents to continue focused attention on gang activity in this area. Residents are strongly encouraged to call 911.
SECTION 5
1) A rash of graffiti occurred the Friday following Thanksgiving, November 25th, along Washtenaw North to Logan Blvd. Many homes and garages were vandalized with the graffiti which was likely done by a rival gang to the Maniac Latin Disciples Altgeld and Washtenaw. (MLD AW).
2) A resident mentioned to the police that there has been gang graffiti of a pitchfork on the sidewalk on Fairfield near the park entrance and has yet to be removed despite calls to 311.
SECTION 6
1) "MOM" graffiti continues to appear in this section. Police believe they know the neighborhood resident who is responsible for this activity and will continue to apply pressure on the individual to discontinue the vandalism.
2) A neighborhood resident is trying to work with city services to get the street lights back on at Artesian and Western.
3) Graffiti on the Kennedy Expressway and around its viaducts needs to be removed by IDOT (Illinois Dept of Transportation, 847-705-4610). The highway is considered state versus city responsibility.
4) There is a community meeting scheduled December 7th, 6:30 - 8:00pm at St. John Berchmans Hall, 2545 N. Maplewood St to discuss the development plans of the Skate Park that will be located under and along the Kennedy Expressway overpass on the North side of Logan Blvd. Neighborhood residents are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting.
action: Homeless, graffiti and the Cheerios gang continues to be a blight in this section. Residents should call 911 and IDOT to report this activity.
Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Section 1 gangs and drug activity remains a serious monthly problem and needs more proactive action by law enforcement.
2) Graffiti appears to be on the increase in all sections. Call frequently to 311 to have Graffiti Blasters remove the vandalism as soon as possible. Owners of properties vandalized by graffiti should try to remove or cover the graffiti as soon as possible to deter others and rival gangs from tagging on top of the existing graffiti.
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.
