BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
December 4th, 2008

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm at 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: PO Gomez, PO Redelsperger, PO Komo, Liz Rios (14th District CAPS organizer), SGT Giambrone, SGT Jaske

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 14

Go directly to the following sections:
General Announcements
CLEARMap
Court Advocacy
Reported Shots Fired Beat Map
Beat 1431 Section Reports

General Announcements
SGT Giambrone reported that the city as a whole is "getting hammered" with robberies between November and December due to the economy and the holiday season. That said, Beat 1431 is doing well compared against other Beats in the 14th District, particularly with low thefts.
SGT Giambrone mentioned that there was an increase in motor vehicle thefts and believes this is the result of residents warming their vehicles outside in the cold with the keys in the ignition.
Giambrone also reported that Garmin navigation systems are being stolen from cars and drivers that own these systems should remove them from the car when not in use.
Lastly, SGT Giambrone mentioned that vehicles that have OnStar systems can be tracked and located if stolen. The OnStar service can also flash the lights of the vehicle and slow it down remotely to assist police in recapturing the vehicle.

Liz Rios underscored the following public safety tips that were mentioned at the previous CAPS meeting:
- When shopping and carrying bags to your car, be mindful that you could be watched by a criminal. Do not take a lot of time to arrange shopping bags in the trunk of the car to minimize the time a criminal has to walk up behind you.
- If you are going to continue to shop, place your purchases in the trunk of your car and drive to another parking location to make potential criminals who are watching you think you are leaving.


14th District Community Policing Christmas Party
The 14th District Chicago Police Department, CAPS, Domino's Pizza, and local businesses have united to bring smiles and joy to the 14th District's neediest children this Holiday season. Please help by donating new, unwrapped toys.

Drop-Off Dates and Location:
November 10th - December 12th
14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California
Donations should be suitable for newborn children to 14 years of age.

For further information: 14th District Community Policing Office (312) 744-1261 or CAPS.014DISTRICT@CHICAGOPOLICE.ORG


CLEARMap (formerly Citizen ICAM)
From November 1st - 30th, according to CLEARMap, Beat 1431 suffered 72 crimes, an increase of 10 from last month (62):
- 1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT *
- 3 AGGRAVATED BATTERY *
- 5 BURGLARY *
- 2 DRUG ABUSE VIOLATIONS
- 1 FORGERY AND COUNTERFEITING
- 1 FRAUD
- 16 LARCENY THEFT *
- 3 MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES
- 4 ROBBERY
- 2 SIMPLE ASSAULT
- 4 SIMPLE BATTERY
- 30 VANDALISM

* indicates index crimes (most serious offenses)

Click here to view table of all reported crimes (new window)

Beat 1431 Court Advocacy Report
1) December 4th, Branch 23-4, 5555 W. Grand at 1:30pm
3 cases from the 2400 block of McLean were released with no charges. The offenders had warrants issued by the arresting officer but the court released the warrants and let them off. Apparently this is a common court tactic to clear cases.
3 cases from the 2700 block of Prindiville the judge entered an ex parte judgement for $200.
2) January 9th and 14th at Branch 23-4, 5555 W. Grand at 1:30pm
Gang members arrested for "obstruction of traffic" and "reckless conduct" on the 2400 block of McLean. Court Advocates and Alderman Flores are scheduled to attend.

Court Advocates at the CAPS meeting reported that they seem to get more cooperation from the City Counsel rather than the State's Attorney. The State's Attorney rarely seems to recognize the Court Advocates and tends to quickly breeze through cases.


Reported Shots Fired Beat Map
There were no reported shots fired over November.

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) Drug and gang activity continues on the 2700 block of Prindiville, people have been reportedly seen driving up to the residence, going in and then leaving. Drug exchanges were reported by a resident.
2) A large amount of gang tagging was reported under the El tracks in this section.
3) There was a "possession of cannabis" arrest, November 13th, on the 2200 block of N. Bingham.
4) There was a "criminal trespass to vehicles" arrest, November 11th, on the 2000 block of N. Stave.
5) There was an "issuance of warrant" arrest, November 24th, on the 2700 block of W. Armitage.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 for any emergency or crime in this section. They are also encouraged to call 311 for graffiti and the Alderman's Office for problems with abandoned buildings.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) There was an "armed robbery with firearm" arrest, November 23rd, on the 2000 block of N. Campbell.
2) There were 5 "obstruction of traffic" gang member arrests and 1 "possession of cocaine" arrest, November 12th, on the 2000 block of N. Campbell.
3) 2 pizza delivery drivers for Congress Pizza attended the meeting to address community concern about gang drug activity at the restaurant. Community residents have seen known gang members going in and out of the rear of the restaurant through the pizza delivery doors and they are not delivering or buying pizzas. Instead, they are believed to be selling drugs to the pizza delivery drivers and the restaurant manager or owner does not seem to be preventing the activity. The 2 pizza delivery drivers attending the meeting denied any drug activity and that the delivery door to the restaurant is always kept open to allow for the coming and going of the drivers.
Jerry Gabrielatos from Alderman Flores' office announced that he had requested a management representative to attend the CAPS meeting. Instead, 2 pizza delivery drivers were sent to attend the meeting. Jerry will follow up with the manager of Congress Pizza to suggest they change their "business model" for the safety of the neighborhood to address the gang drug activity that is being reported at the restaurant with the drivers. Jerry also mentioned that positive loitering campaigns have occurred at the restaurant and the Alderman's office receives weekly calls on the gang activity at that location.
The drivers at the meeting mentioned that the manager would be at the pizzeria after the CAPS meeting offering free pizzas to meeting attendees.
4) A resident reported a complaint to the Congress Theater that theater parking signs directing parking to Chase Elementary school were seen blocking access to Francis Pl. Max, a representative from Congress Theater at the meeting, mentioned that the signs should be on the curb corner and will address the issue.
action: Police and Alderman's office should continue to pressure Congress Pizza to address the gang drug activity reported at the restaurant.
Residents should continue to call 911 for any emergency or crime in this section and report shootings on the list serve.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
There were no reported crimes in this section.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) There was a "domestic violation of order of protection" arrest on November 30th, on the 2600 block of W. Fullerton.
2) SGT Giambrone mentioned that police were called to handle a fight outside of the Tini Martini nightclub at Talman and Milwaukee.
3) A resident reported that patrons of both Tini Martini and Congress Theater tend to park in the diagonal parking spaces at Goethe Elementary School creating noise and leaving garbage behind.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) There were 3 "aggravated robbery" arrests at 4:45am December 2nd on the 2600 block of N. California. Two of the offenders were adults, one was a juvenile.
2) There was a report of late night parties occurring at the former Bolzano's Pizza restaurant on Fullerton near Rockwell. The establishment is believed to be connected to the club located at California and Fullerton.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
There were no reported crimes in this section.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti

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

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