Meeting Minutes
May 19th, 2011
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 21st at 6:30pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.
Officers Present: SGT Velgara, SGT Giambrone, PO Komo, PO Smith & Liz Rios (14th District CAPS organizer)
Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 19
General Announcements
Liz Rios announced that Beat 1431 CAPS meetings are only meeting every other month like many other districts due to staff shortages. She also mentioned that Beat 1431 residents are free to meet between CAPS meetings, however, they need to be called "Community Meetings" and not "CAPS Meetings". Ms. Rios also requested that meeting minutes captured at these non-CAPS meetings be referred to as "Community meeting minutes".
A representative from the GGNA community group mentioned that the GGNA will likely try to support monthly "community meetings" between official CAPS meetings.
Beat 1431 is in need of a resident to serve as the CAPS meeting facilitator. Interested candidates should contact the CAPS office at the 14th District Police Station (312-744-8290) or CAPS.014District@chicagopolice.org
SGT Velgara announced that he is retiring from the police force after many decades of service. SGT Giambrone mentioned his thanks for Velgara's service, particularly his efforts in community outreach.
SGT Velgara also announced that residents should email the CAPS office (CAPS.014District@chicagopolice.org) at least a week in advance of the Beat 1431 CAPS meetings for any criminal activities they would like the police to provide further information. This also includes any community meetings that occur in between official "CAPS" meetings.
CLEARMap
From April 1st - 30th, according to CLEARMap, Beat 1431 suffered 81 crimes, a decrease of 4 from March (85):
- 1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT *
- 1 AGGRAVATED BATTERY *
- 9 BURGLARY *
- 1 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
- 28 LARCENY THEFT *
- 5 MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES
- 6 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT *
- 5 ROBBERY *
- 1 SIMPLE ASSAULT
- 14 SIMPLE BATTERY
- 9 VANDALISM
- 1 WEAPONS
* indicates index crimes (most serious offenses)
Beat 1431 Court Advocacy Report
There was not a report provided.
Reported Shots Fired Beat Map
4/25 at 11pm, shots reported on the 2400 block of McLean
Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) There continues to be drug and gang activity on the 2000 block of Stave and the 2700 block of Francis Pl. The police had no further information on this situation which was reported in March.
According to resident reports, gang and drug activity on the 2700 block of Francis is at a "steady state" during the evening hours between 6pm - 11pm, Wednesday - Saturday.
2) April 29th, an off duty US Marshal shot a gang member in the leg who was in a chase while wielding a gun. There was no further information provided by the police.
3) Residents re-iterated all the crime incidents from the previous "Community meeting" held in April:
a) 2 separate incidents of shots fired were reported the evening of March 16th, first at 5:22pm and then again at 8:20pm. Unfortunately, no one witnessed the shootings. 14th district police officers responded quickly.
b) Cobra gang graffiti has been reportedly vandalizing the business at 2700 Francis Pl.
c) Another building on the 2000 block of Bingham has been vandalized with Cobra gang graffiti along with MLD gang graffiti.
d) Residents believe MLD gang members have been seen more frequently in the section.
e) Residents are seeing an increase in gang graffiti in addition to non-gang related tagging.
3) Residents mentioned that parking on Bingham and Stave has been challenging due to events being held by Tini Martini, Congress Theater and VLive.
4) SGT Velgara announced that there were 3 arrests made for graffiti in section 1 on Wed, May 18th.
5) SGT Velgara mentioned that there were over 20, 911 calls regarding the property at 2139 Point.
6) SGT Velgara mentioned that the police arrested 4 individuals for burglary on the 2000 block of Point.
action: Residents are urged to continue calling 911 to report the ongoing gang and criminal activity.
SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) Representatives from VLive announced that there were 2 arrests made in April, both pertaining to battery of employees
2) Gun shots were reported on April 25th at 11pm on the 2400 block of McLean, police were dispatched. SGT Giambrone mentioned that he responded to the call and he and his colleagues did not find the suspect or notice indications of a gun being fired.
3) Residents are still wondering whether the ongoing criminal activity at VLive is in conflict with a restrictive covenant in place for their business license.
4) Resident reported that ticketing of illegal parking has been working well in this section even in concert nights.
action: Club 2047 criminal activity, Congress Theater & Tini Martini and Congress Pizza gang activity remain priorities in this section.
SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
There were no reports in this section
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) SGT Giambrone responded to a 911 call over the last month from a resident reporting individuals drinking in a parked vehicle. When SGT Giambrone arrived, he found a young male laying in the middle of the street inebriated, and lucky to have not been run over by a car.
2) Residents asked the police for more information regarding a house near the intersection of Washtenaw and Belden that had yellow police tape surrounding the front entrance. Police believe the tape was an indication that the property was "unsafe" or could be in the process of being torn down.
3) According to the police present, the arrests reported last month on April 5th at Goethe Elementary School near Talman and Lyndale resulted in a gun being seized.
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) The police had no further information on the illegal parties that were reported on the 2600 block of Fullerton. These were initially reported at the last Beat meeting in March. There have been complaints of noise as well as residents noticing signs for parties.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 if they hear or see any suspicious activity.
SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Several residents reported criminal activity on the 2400 block of Campbell near Altgeld and Campbell. A few suspects have been identified recruiting and selling drugs and there is concern that the IG's (Imperial Gangsters) might be trying to form in this area. Residents have called 911 and are remaining vigilant in this area. The alley behind Artesian facing Western has also been an area where there has been loitering and criminal activity.
Residents would like to get this activity stopped as soon as possible. SGT Giambrone indicated that he will discuss this with the Gang and Tactical Unit.
2) Residents reported that the infamous homeless person (record of drug abuse), Daryl Chambers, has moved further North near Diversey and Western.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti
Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang graffiti
2) Gang drug activity
3) Gang weapons violence
4) Increasing thefts
DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPS volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.
