BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2006

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 5th at 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: SGT Giambrone, PO Strazzante, PO Macniff, PO Ortiz, PO Karwowski, and PO Augustyn 14th District Community Policing

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 12

General Announcements

Citizen ICAM
From August 1st through August 31st, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered 80 crimes, a decrease of 19 from last month (99):
  - 11 Person
  - 47 Property
  - 5 Society (Narcotics, liquor law violation)
  - 9 Domestic (person and property)
  - 8 undetermined

Warning: US Energy Deceptive Sales Practices
A representative from Alderman Colon's office announced a warning to 1431 residents of a current door to door sales scam performed by US Energy encouraging residents to switch from using Peoples Energy to US Energy, promising lower energy rates. Upon closer review, however, the US Energy contracts turn out to cost hundreds of dollars more and are designed to be very difficult to terminate. Therefore, residents are encouraged to refuse these sales requests and contact Alderman Colon's office if you are confronted by this company.

SGT Giambrone commends 14th District Officers
SGT Giambrone gave a letter of commendation to two 14th District gang and tactical officers for a recent arrest of unlawful use of weapons, retrieving a .357 revolver.
SGT Giambrone also gave officers Macniff and Trempe (not present) a letter of commendation for their recent participation in an "Internet Safety" seminar at St. Mary's Elementary School.

GGNA Listserve Inflammatory Remarks
SGT Giambrone voiced his displeasure with an email posting that appeared a couple weeks ago on the GGNA listserve that contained "libelous" remarks of the integrity of the 14th District Police and one of it's officers. SGT Giambrone takes these remarks seriously and condemns these sorts of attacks. He also criticized the GGNA listserve manager for allowing this particular email to be posted to the community for it's inflammatory message that was clearly flaming the 14th District. SGT Giambrone underscored the importance of CAPS working with the community and this sort of email is antithetical to this effort. If residents have a complaint of Beat 1431 officers they should contact SGT Giambrone directly and he will take their complaints seriously.

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) Two section residents representing "Friends at Chase Elementary" petitioned for volunteers to help supervise the teenager and pre-teenager presence at the school on the weekend. Activities would include sports and gardening. Interested residents should contact Chase Elementary School. There has been a lot of loitering around the school by this age group requiring more adult supervision as well as police attention. PO Karwowski suggested residents call the Chicago Public School Board, 1st Ward Alderman Flores' office and the 14th District Police Station demanding a consistent police presence at neighborhood schools.
2) Chase Elementary School is offering after school activities including studio arts, film, theater and yoga for both students and adults. Contact Lilly, the Community School Manager (and after hours school supervisor), at Chase Elementary for more information.
3) The police camera at Stave and Francis is operating, however, the 14th District police remarked that nearby trees are blocking a substantial percentage of the potential viewing area. There also was questioning as to why the camera was placed at Stave and Francis versus Bingham.
4) Gang and drug activity is still rampant on the 2100 block of Bingham, particularly 2113 Bingham. Residents should contact Officer Torres (312) 744-8290 to investigate 2113 Bingham - it has been reported as a problem address by section residents every month. Building complaint forms can also be filled out at the 14th District Police Station.
5) SGT Giambrone mentioned there are more police on bicycles assigned to Section 1
6) Residents reported that there are several trucks that park across the Chase Elementary schoolyard and drink alcohol in their trucks and then litter on the parkway.
7) PO Strazzante reported that the police have the MLD gang member who was responsible for hitting a young male in the head with a fire hydrant cap back in June (reported in July minutes section 1 item 8).
8) Officers are also looking for street gambling as it can lead to disagreements and violence.
9) For the 3rd month in a row Mariano's has been mentioned as a site for drug activity and again, there has been no word from Officer Robles who promised to bring the owners of this establishment to the 1431 Beat Meeting to address this problem (see section 4 item 7).
action: Police to pay more attention to the loitering at Chase Elementary School. Property at 2113 Bingham needs 14th District attention. Also, residents are strongly urged to call 911 when they see the drug activity behind Marianos providing very detailed descriptions of the offenders. 911 calls are encouraged to maintain police presence in this section.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) A representative for the security detail hired by the Congress Theater was present and asked the attendees of the meeting if they had any problems with the security at theater events. No issues were raised in respect to the security detail.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) Resident reported rival gang shooting possibly involving the Spanish Lords and MLDs.
2) PO Strazzante reported that the police have been dispersing transients who are congregating behind Danny's Liquors. As mentioned in last month's meeting, the homeless tend to walk down the alley from Danny's Foods North to Fullerton and to the expressway.
action: Residents should call 911 to report gang activity or any drinking in the public way.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) Latin Lover gang activity remains a problem at Goethe Elementary. Several calls of service were reported over the last month including 2 just before the CAPS meeting pertaining to gang loitering at the school.
2) A resident reported that during the early morning on a Sunday, August 13th, a couple individuals in a beige van with plate #9638044 attempted to steal the spare tire off his pickup truck.
action: Residents are urged to continue to call 911 to report gang activity at Goethe Elementary and consistent police attention is also needed.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) During the early morning of August 25th, there was a homicide in a second level apartment building on the 2500 block of California. SGT Giambrone reported that the iron gate enclosing the rear of the building was left open which gave the suspects an opportunity. Also, the backdoor to the second floor apartment was also unlocked. The suspects entered the apartment rummaging through the back room when the girlfriend of the victim heard the criminals and screamed. Edward Kurland, responding to his girlfriend, entered the room and was fatally shot in the chest. SGT Giambrone referred to this tragedy as a "crime of opportunity" where the open gate and open apartment door gave these criminals a better opportunity to commit this heinous crime.
2) Also during the early morning of August 25th, there was a shooting at Fullerton and Western wounding four people. SGT Giambrone reported that this was a gang related incident, both shooting parties being rival gangs involving drugs. The police are currently investigating this incident.
3) Resident reported repeatedly seeing a number of late-teenage, Hispanic males loitering at 2503 N. Talman during the early evening that could be gang related.
4) Resident reported numerous people walking up and down the alley behind the 2500 N. block of California peering into garbage bins and backyards where possible. SGT Giambrone recommended that residents install motion detector security lights 10ft or higher on garages and backyards near pedestrian entrances to help deter possible crimes.
5) Resident reported his car was stolen on the 2500 block of Fairfield. The car was later recovered by police and he said the policeman he worked with was very helpful. The car theft victim was also able to recover a part from his car on the street near where it was stolen that seemed to have fingerprints on it - the police will test the part for evidence of the car thief.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) The bar "Huckleberries" recently passed an undercover test arranged by the 14th District Police by not selling alcohol to a minor.
2) Graffiti marred several buildings shortly after the gang related shooting at Western and Fullerton on August 25th. The graffiti appeared to be the work of the Spanish Lords gang.
3) Cheerios gang members have been loitering on the 2500 block just west of Western. PO Strazzante reported that they recently arrested these criminals for drinking in the public way.
4) The restaurant space at Fullerton and Rockwell believed to be the new location for a restaurant called "Caliente" recently had it's sign taken down and resident's were concerned that it may not occupy the space after all. A local resident reported that the police were called by neighbors near the establishment for a party in the space. The police found that there was alcohol at the party but it was brought by the guests and no alcohol was apparently sold on the premises. The restaurant was in the process of obtaining a liquor license. 1st Ward Alderman Flores will be addressing the status of the restaurant to residents soon.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang graffiti
2) Gang loitering and recruiting
3) Gang drug trafficking
4) Gang violence

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