I received a follow up phone call from a 16th District CAPS officer who said he will be forwarding more "burglary prevention tips". I will post them when received. Note: I tried to post (cut/paste) from the scanned pdf and am unable. If you are interested in "burglary prevention tips" and a CAPs meeting calendar, you can call the CAPS office at (312) 742-4521.
Next Steps: Letter to Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy... I encourage all concerned to write too, in support of our neighbors who have become victims.
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Readers,
Here is a copy of the letter I just emailed the police commander of the 16th District requesting information about an action plan to deal with the increase in burglaries in the district. Awaiting a response as to how to obtain information about next steps. I encourage all interested readers to do the same.
Sent today:
30 November 2011
Commander David McNaughton,
I’m writing you today in regards to the Nadig newspaper article published in the Chicago Northwest Side Press, today, November 30, 2011. The article is titled, “Burglaries Increase in the District”, and it documents a 14% increase in reported burglaries in the 16th police district from this time last year.
You have sent out many helpful alerts in the last several months listing interventions residents can implement, themselves, to decrease their risk for home and garage burglaries. I’m wondering if there has been an official action plan devised by the Chicago Police Department to deter burglaries in the 16th District. Will the 16th Police District be implementing any new course of action or will there be an increase in patrol officers assigned to the district to deal with increasing incidences of crime?
Let me know if an action plan has been devised and how that plan may be obtained to share in a discussion on the 41st Ward Citizen's Blog.
Let me know if an action plan has been devised and how that plan may be obtained to share in a discussion on the 41st Ward Citizen's Blog.
Best Regards,
41st Ward Blog Moderator
I haven't seen a patriol car in over a year. Crooks know where there are no cops. Open season in the 16th district
ReplyDeleteThese are only reported burglaries. Real numbers are much higher.
ReplyDeleteOn Thanksgiving Day there were 4 residential burglaries within blocks of each other near the 5000 blocks of New CAstle.
ReplyDeleteStop already. A letter to the Commander is sad. The letter needs to go to O'Connor, Mulroe, Silverstein, D'Amico, Silvestri, and the rest of the connected crew.
ReplyDeleteLast send it to Rahm and Preckwinkle. Remember, Preckwinkle says decriminalize marijuana.
New flash, the burglars have weed habits, and thats why they do burglaries. I deal with them daily. Put the f'ers in jail for the petty shit and this won't continue to escalate.
America
The plan is to nothing but let it happen.
ReplyDeleteShould try to find out where the increase is taking place. Is it all over the district or parts of the district? 16 is the largest district in the city (i believe). The south end has changed significantly over the years. Personally, I think the police do a remarkable job with the resources they have. Like it or not, I see no more effective way to deal with the crime then to target the high crime areas with more police. That means district wide and city wide and less police for the low crime areas.
ReplyDeleteAction plan is simple - we need more cops on patrol in the 16th district.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the meeting the aldermen fro within the district were going to hold with McCarthy?
ReplyDeleteThe mayor spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on stupid cameras and leaves the neighborhoods to fend for ourselves with no cops.
ReplyDeleteWe NEED cops, we don't need any more f'n cameras.
I'm waiting for someone to try to rob my house. Come and get it......................................................................................................................................................................................................
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing a ten fold of unsavory characters roaming the neighborhood and I'm seeing no patrol cars. Cops are like the California Condor - extinct in the 16th Distict.
ReplyDeleteThe 16th district has lost over 300 police officers in the last five years, and there is no plan to replace any of them.
ReplyDeletePlan to protect yourselves accordingly.
Wait till you get more section 8 in those big apartment buildings in Edison Park. I'm so happy retired down here in sunny Fla. You all gave away the fight by voting for liberal do gooders to run the neighborhood, city, county and state I used to love. You inherited the last bastion of hope in the city and handed it over. Quit your complaining.
ReplyDeleteI don't live in the 41st ward, but have been looking for a house in a safe neighborhood. I think I'm going to look at Park Ridge.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is the judges. We need conservative judges that will lock up the bad guys and throw away the keys. Too bad the majority of the judges are slated political hacks beholden to liberal interests.
ReplyDeleteI just read your update, blogger. So, you got no where at the district level - what a surprize. Following the chain of command I see.
ReplyDeleteSo, the Commander is afraid of social media too? The most popular methods to reach the masses today and public safety leaders quiver in fear of words - give me a break.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you blogger, going up the chain of command is needed. The district level can't advocate for a greater police presence.
ReplyDeleteWe need to do that, by writing, protesting and bringing this issue up at EACH and EVERY community meeting (not CAPS -useless) meeting is vital. Writing letters to the editor, consistently works well too.
Just a few words from your moderator... I do think the Chicago Police Department should take a look at how other police departments use social media to alert community members to crime occurring as it happens and as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteSome of the Chicago Universities have great public safety notification systems - University of Illinois, DePaul and Loyola to name a few. They have tens and hundreds of thousands students, faculty and staff who receive public safety messages instantly when there are serious safety concerns via twitter, facebook, email, etc...
I briefly looked up CPD on facebook and found a site, but it hasn't been activated. Same situation for the 16th District Chicago Police. The alert just recenty sent out by the commander would have reached thousands, potentially, in a short amount of time if sent to Facebook, Twitter accounts, emails, etc.. Community policing could/should include using social media as an important notification tool (not for every situation, but for those meeting specific criteria).
The districts could benefit from a media expert to work on some of these issues as well as sending out newsletters can be copied and read via the internet.
My daughter goes to University of Illinois and she does receive notifications and safety alerts sent to her cell from the school. When she gets a crime alert, I drive her to school. She, like many students her age, need frequent alerts and reminders to stay alert, no ipods in her ear, travel in groups, etc. I think public notices via twitter, emails, cell phones, facebook are a good idea. I want to know what's going on, but I'm so busy, I have no time to go to meetings.
ReplyDeleteSend me an email and I will read it.
If I'm a breaking into people's homes and the police have a social media alert system, I'm joining it and following it. Maybe even report some thing to divert police so they are on the other end of the district. CAPS is a feel good waste of money. If the police tell you what they are really doing to solve crime at the CAPS meeting, they are also telling the criminals. We need more police. Start by getting rid of feel good programs like CAPS that do little more than make people feel "important" or like they're the police and send the CAPS officers back out on the street. You people crack me up with your self importance and nievetee.
ReplyDeleteDisagree 9:23am. Right now the criminals have all the knowledge and the upper hand by us being clueless. Give us some knowledge so we can defend ourselves, especially since we have hundreds less officers around to protect the community.
ReplyDeleteAn alert is simply an alert - no one wants to give criminals precise details of crime fighting strategy - use some common sense.
Goal is to catch the bad guys and prevent further crime. I think the police do a good job catching the bad guys, now they need to work on catching up with technology and use it to prevent crime and further crime.
ReplyDeleteA two sentence tweet is all I need: "Six burglaries yesterday, all of them near Foster & Harlem. Suspects driving a ______. Report all suspicious activity - for more details go to 16th District Facebook page/website ______ Not a big deal, but reminds me to more vigilant.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.iacpsocialmedia.org/Topics/Parent.aspx?termid=125&depth=2
ReplyDeleteCrime Prevention
Crime prevention is one of the common goals of all law enforcement agencies. Many agencies are leveraging the benefits of social media to educate larger audiences on crime prevention tactics and helpful tips; to promote awareness of important issues such as available resources and victimization data; and to foster partnerships with the community.
Don't simply dismiss using social media as a crime prevention strategy because you don't understand it or are afraid of it. Learn to use it to your advantage CPD.
I get tweets, emails and FB messages for sales at the hardware store, haircut reminders, report card pick-up, etc. Getting a community alert from the police makes sense to me, and I would read them.
ReplyDeleteI'm a criminal and I really don't want my picture and car plastered all over face book and blogs.
ReplyDeleteSummary
ReplyDelete1. 300 less police in the district from 5 years ago.
2. Burglaries are up.
3. 14,000 new police cameras to catch revenue generating crime (red lights, speeding, etc) committed by taxpayors.
4. Very limited notification of crime in the neighborhood - no use of popular social media sources.
Can't have it all Rahm. If you aren't going to include the communities in fighting crime, you need to hire more police. How about using all the camera revenue money to hire more police!
the 16th District has 200,000+ sets of eyes living in it, and they could come in handy spotting crime and criminal elements especially with 300 LESS police officers and NO PLAN TO REPLACE THEM!
ReplyDeleteNo one has time for meetings. Tell us what we need to be watching out for in an email, FB or tweet.
ReplyDeleteWe need alerts with accurate information. By the time the rumors got to me, there were 26 burlaries and 2 home invasions all on thanksgiving in a 4 block radius. I also got a completely wrong description of the offenders.
ReplyDeleteCommunity Policing in Chicago needs restructuring. Civilian media experts need to be hired to communicate with the community. CAPS officers need to get out from behind desks and computers and get to know the neighbors and the neighborhoods. They need to be placed back on patrol. Community policing meetings need to be led by civilians specially trained in facilitating community discussions.
ReplyDeleteless cameras, more cops
ReplyDeleteHey 12:02 - You don't have a clue. Legalize and tax pot. Put the cartels out of business. End Nixons' war on drugs. Free up Cops to solve real crimes. What is CPD murder solve rate? Would be 20 points higher (and fewer murders to solve) if Nixon era finally ended.
ReplyDeleteCollege campuses learned much about public safety notifications from many college campus tragedies. Now, college police are social media experts who know how to get the word out and students trust them for it.
ReplyDeleteYes, police are good at finding the criminals, but do need to do more with prevention. Reactive policing isn't quality policing.
ReplyDeletePolice need to be where people are, and if people are on computers, ipads, smart phones, reading news and getting information, the police need to be there too.
ReplyDelete9:23am
ReplyDeletenaïveté
From the International Association of Chiefs of Police website:
ReplyDeleteWhy should law enforcement use social media to
promote crime prevention?
The most effective law enforcement agencies
recognize and promote partnerships with their
citizens to prevent crime. Citizens who are engaged
and empowered to be responsible for their
communities are valuable assets to the work of
any police department. As the popularity of social
media rises, these tools provide opportunities for law
enforcement agencies to proactively reach out and
connect with citizens and promote crime prevention
in their communities.
I thought the aldermen from the neighborhoods in the 16th District were suppose to meet and discuss police staffing patterns with the police chief and the mayor? What happened to that?
ReplyDeleteWe would have a whole lot more money for police if the city council was cut to 25 aldermen. No city needs 50 people on a city council, especialy when each and everyone of them is afraid of the mayor.
ReplyDeletebottom line - we need more cops, and the commander and aldermen don't call that shot. Only the mayor does and according to his daily calendar he only cares about rich people who can help him promote his political agenda.
ReplyDeleteMy company has been right sized, down sized and cut in half, much like the 16th District. It is hell to have to work constantly understaffed and doing the job of five people. It wears on you. The few cops I have seen around looked exhausted. I never see them at Dunkin Donuts anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading about the 36th ward position in the remap. Alderman Sposato is going to be drawn out and will have no job come next election. A real shame because he is a true independent, and truly understands city workers, especially CFF and CPD. Rahm has no use for his independence though. Meanwhile will his secretary run against Alderman O'Connor in 2015? Lets hope not.
ReplyDeleteSmart crooks. No cops in the 16th District, and even less than no cops on a holiday. They cleaned up at our expense. Stay home at Christmas and get a pit bull.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Gary McCarthy live in the 16th District?
ReplyDeleteSomeone post a map to McCarthy's house, so the criminals all know how to get there. He can feel our unprotected pain.
ReplyDeleteWe need OUR cops to stay in the 16th district and start replacing some of the cops who retired. It's a cop ghost town here.
There are no cops here at all. If someone tells you they saw a cop - it was an illusion. Everyone who lives her knows it and now the criminals all know it. Change your staffing pattern Commander - WE ARE NOW A HIGH CRIME AREA.
ReplyDeleteEveryone, keep an eye out and call 911 for ANYTHING out of place.
We don't need all these stupid traffic cameras trying to generate more revenue for the city - we need cops. We pay for police protection and once again get NO reinvestment for our tax dollars.
ReplyDeleteCall and email the superintendent and the alderman. We aren't getting the services we pay for.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a matter of time. Something big and unmanagemable will happen and all the fingers will start pointing at each other.
ReplyDeleteAlderman Sposato - a real victim of politics. Ashame because he does emulate genuine american values. And that he was a working man, makes this loss more then just collateral damage.
ReplyDeleteHow can you deliver any service missing 300 staff members? Can't be done. Expect all crime to go up, and many more victims.
ReplyDelete1. Restore safe staffing levels at the 16th District.
ReplyDelete2. Better use of technology and social media to alert residents, give public safety info.
Rumor has it that Sposata is not going to go quietly. In a remap year he can run any where he wants. I hope he heads a little North and runs in 41. He is the only Alderman on the North and/or North west side that actually thinks about the people who elected him first. You will be welcome Alderman Sposata and there are tons of voters up here who know you from our old neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteSposata would do well in the 41st ward for a few reasons - many CFF and CPD live in the 41st ward and would vote for him. The rest of the ward would vote for him because he isn't afraid of Rahm. The 41st ward was one of two wards Rahm didn't win in the mayoral election. O'Connor doesn't fit here because she supports Rahm and the ward doesn't.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Rahm, todays' Sun-Times (they adore him) has a photo of him in Washington D.C. attending a black-tie event. Being there gives him the chance to pick up his mail while back home.
ReplyDeleteSposata should take a run up here - he has nothing to lose and would have much support for many different reasons.
ReplyDeleteI agree, O'Connor is no fit for the 41st ward. She thinks and votes as the Democratic Party tells her to. We need someone who votes for with the people in the ward in mind.
ReplyDeleteO'Connor is no fit, Sposata is a better fit.
spelled "Sposato"
ReplyDeleteSo, will the cops who retire from the 16th District this year be replaced? One of the aldermen commented recently that 16th District has about 180 cops on active duty. If another 20 to 35 retire, that can bring numbers down 150 or so. And there are only 200 new cadets slated to be trained this year and some of them going to CTA? Where does that leave us?
ReplyDeleteSo, what will it take for someone to address staffing patterns at the 16th district?
ReplyDelete