Place: Copernicus Center
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Attendees: Approximately 100 people, including: Aldermen Sposato & Arena (Aldermen Cullerton and O'Connor not in attendance). Chief of Patrol Escalante (Commander O'Donnell's boss, the Commander was not in attendance), Captain Jan Dillon, Executive Officer & Second in Command at the 16th District, Sergeant Kibble, CAPS Office, 16th District was the moderator, two detectives assigned to work burglaries in the 16th District and other 16th District CAPS officers, too.
Some of the more interesting questions asked during the Town Hall Meeting, Question and Answer portion of the meeting:
1. Question: How many active duty sworn police officers are currently assigned to the 16th District as of today? How many active duty sworn police officers were in place at the 16th District, three years ago? What is the plan to replace officers who have retired/left the 16th District?
Initially, no one on the panel seemed to know, how many officers report to the 16th District each day, until the person asking the question reminded them. The all of a sudden, Capt. Dillon remembered that there are 197 sworn police officers assigned to the 16th District, presently. Three years ago, there were approximately 350 sworn police officers assigned to the 16th District.
There are approximately 44% less officers assigned to the 16th District today, compared to three years ago.
So what is the plan to replace the approximately 153 officers who have retired/left the 16th District? According to Alderman Arena, no one has the "power" to determine police staffing and that the 16th District is the safest district in the city. And yet, just 5 minutes later, Alderman Arena was answering questions about the murder on Milwaukee Ave just last weekend. Alderman Arena also, conveniently didn't mention the 16th District % Change in the murder rate from 2011 to 2012 per the Clear Path Compstat report - an increase of 300%. (Criminal Sexual Assualts increased 9%, Robberies increased 4%, Felony Theft increased 10% and Motor Vehicle Theft increased 7%). Check Compstat reports for the 16th District on Clearpath.
So, what we are left to understand from Alderman Arena is that until the 16th District is the murder capital of the city, police staffing shortages will not be addressed.
In summary: In the 16th District, we pay more in taxes, fees and fines than ever before, but are receiving almost 50% less in public safety services, compared to three years ago. And, according to Alderman Arena, the city council can't do anything about increasing police officer numbers in the City of Chicago, and specifically in the 16th, until the 16th District experiences significant increases in crime. Until then, we will be assigned no officers, and in fact, officers who retire tomorrow, will most likely not be replaced.
More tomorrow.
26 July 2012
The Burglary Seminar part of the meeting:
A couple of highlights from Officer Joyner, the moderator of the Burglary Seminar and the panel of convicted residential burglars: Note - these are comments and opinions of the panel...
- Alarm systems weren't much of a deterrent for the panel members because they were in and out of homes very quickly.
- One panel member said a strong, heavy door with deadbolt hardware customized with 2 inch screws driven deeply into the door (rather than the 3/4 inch screws that come with many standard deadbolt locks) and a metal plate around the latch/lock gave him a hard time/it took to long to break in and he was caught.
- One guy specialized in garages and said he would load power tools/gardening equipment, snow blowers etc into the homeowners black city garbage can and roll the can down the alley to his truck.
- On guy said a deterrent for him was a satellite surveillance/alarm system. He avoids homes with those.
- All of the burglars said they were caught after the "nosey" neighbor called the police on them. Officer Joyner made it a special point to say it is critical to get to know your neighbors on all four sides of your home.
- Officer Joyner mentioned garage door remotes shouldn't be left in your cars, on visors etc.. because if you leave your car somewhere and someone breaks into your car, they could access your address from the vehicle registration you leave in your glove compartment and use the garage door opener to access the garage door. She said you don't need to keep vehicle registration in your glove - keep it in your wallet.
- Dogs that are specifically trained to protect not only you, but your property were a deterrent for a few of the burglars, but a few said they bring treats and meat for dogs and have no issue with them.
- One burglar said he sells his stolen merchandise at flea markets, another used a fence, another on the street....
- One burglar used google earth to check out neighborhoods and to plan how to get out of a neighborhood. A couple burglars watched homes to see who left for work, who was home, etc..
- Two of the burglars used partners as drivers/watchers, the others worked alone. Most kicked in the front door or the garage door.
I'm always wondering about numbers that aren't in the reports, like the numbers of shootings in the 16th District. I read about shootings every week in the neighborhood paper, but those numbers never are published anywhere. How many people have been shot in the 16th District this year - seems like more than in the past.
ReplyDeleteGetting shot with a gun doesn't count. Only if you are shot and die does it make the "Compstat" report! I agree, the perception is, there are more shootings and gang presence than ever before.
DeleteThe number of shootings are tracked in the Compstat reports. For the 16th District, there have been six shooting incidents, an increase of 50% from the same time as last year (July 2011).
DeleteCan you see why we don't need 50 aldermen? Two out of the four aldermen with wards within the 16th district don't even show up to a town hall meeting and the other two say nothing about losing almost half the cops in the district. They are all useless and the city council is a joke. We don't need 50 ineffective aldermen. We could use about a dozen aldermen who aren't afraid of the mayor.
ReplyDeleteA 300% increase in the number of murders in the 16th? Being the "safest" district in the murder capital of the world isn't very comforting.
ReplyDeleteSafe is subjective. Apparently Arena feels safe with increasing murders on his watch, and more boarded up storefronts, foreclosed properties and gang presence in the park. Who feels "safe" here? not I.
DeleteThe mayor and aldergoofs decided to replace police officers with ticket writers in the 16th District. Every truck in the district has received at least two tickets in the last month. The dpartment of revenue bike riders are out full force ticketing everything that isn't moving. When will we be safe from tax increases, excessive fines and unbelievable city fees? We get nothing for all the money we are forced to pay the city.
ReplyDeleteSaw the bike riding ticket dude write ticket on three recreational sport trucks on my block last week. What's up with that? Truck owners pay over a hundred dollars more for their city stickers and they still get a ticket?
DeleteIf 36, 38, 41 and 45 stood together on staffing CPD in 16, we might have a chance. Tell Rahm forget about our support on any thing until you address this issue. But then again, if two Alder Gods can't show up for a citizen meeting, why would we mere peasents expect them to acually represent us. Until people start paying attention to what they are voting for, there will be no improvement.
ReplyDeleteI was there last night. Never have I left a meeting more unimpressed. Half the aldermen representing the 16th didn't show, and the other half either said nothing (Sposato) or tried attacking the person asking the important questions (Arena). The commander didn't show up either. What's up with that? All we got out of the CAPS guy was his usual rambling personal anecdotes - no substance. He really rambled when the one lady asked why response times were sooooooo long. What a waste of my time. I will not vote for this mayor or my missing alderman again - no way.
DeleteSgt. Kibble thinks he's Columbo - can distract you with inane stories to throw you off track.
DeleteI agree with the wards working together to demand police presence and acceptable staffing levels at the 16th (150 less officers in 3 yrs is nuts), but that will take leadership and we have no political leaders.
DeleteSo O'Conner didn't even bother to show. Figures.
ReplyDeleteI hope Gonzales runs for alderman again. The ward is ready for a real representative of the people. And if he doesn't run, I hope someone with a brain cell runs against O'Connor.
ReplyDeleteThe Town Hall Meeting should have been hosted by a community group and not by CAPS or by alderman Arena - big mistake. They aren't going to hold themselves accountable - will either pass the buck or act like victims themselves. The NW side needs leadership.
ReplyDeleteWe are told by the Civic Federation and Chamber of Commerce (who give obedience treats to politicians like Rahm and Arena) that "There is no money." Or, "We can no longer afford pensions for public servants. They are filthy liars. The CF and CC protect millionares and billionares, many of whom are treasonous tax dodgers. Today the Tax Justice Network relased a report stating over the last ten years the American super-rich have offshored 21 trillion dollars for the purpose of avoiding taxes. That's trillion with a T. Cause and effect...
ReplyDeleteJust more of the disinvestment of the neighborhoods. Money and resources to downtown and mayor's corporate friends, nothing for the taxpayer.
ReplyDeleteRemember, Arena ran against and almost lost to a cop. He doesn't like cops.
ReplyDeleteArena isn't an alderman who will address public safety. he isn't a CPD fan. Elect aldermen who will see to your safety. O'Connor said she would protest in the street and march with residents to the mayors office demanding more police in the 16th and look what a big fat lie that turned out to be.
ReplyDeleteActually, she said she would encourage a letter writing campaign to the mayor. I heard it 2 times while sitting next to her during debates. I was another candidate.
DeleteA glorified CAPS meeting, right? I told you so. No one can answer any questions, we are all "safe" and if something happens to you, it is your fault.
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteAccording to some research and phone calls I made after the meeting, almost 1000 Chicago police officers have retired in the past two years.
ReplyDeleteAbout 89 people have been hired, to be sworn officers, this year, which include 43 new recruits who started about two weeks ago. According to the mayor's office, there MAY be an additional 400 new hires to the Chicago Police Department this year to replace officers who will be retiring this year. No one is quite sure about those numbers and no one will say where the new officers will be assigned.
Keep pressuring the alderdogs to address staffing shortages at the 16th. Only the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't settle for empty promises and the load of bs "we are safe". Also, call 911 for everything! Call about all suspicious activity.
Delete16th district pos are sent all over the city to handle staffing crisises in other districts. On some shifts there might be no cars assigned to some beats in the 16th. Would be interesting to see staffing patterns for the 16th, PUBLISHED, for the last 6 - 12 months. Do you really think any new officers will be sent to the 16th? Ha. Let's see some numbers. Why doesn't Nadig investigate this? That will be the day!
ReplyDeleteI read the joke of a story about the town hall meetig in the Nadig rag.. the article made it sound like an Arena called meeting to explain all the murders and shootings in the 16th and in the next breath trying to justify the loss of manpower in the 16th. What a joke. Bottom line - we need COPS. Save your rhetoric, no one is going to vote these idiots back into office with crime rates up and cop numbers down. It WILL BE a major election subject, so idiots like Arena better sop trying to justify crime.
DeleteArena said the 16th District is the safest District in the city? What a dickwad. It isn't. There are lakefront (wealthy) districts who have less violent and property crime, AND, they have more or the same number of cops and they are HALF of the geographic area.
ReplyDeleteArena marches to the beat of the Chambers' death cult agenda; Don't hire Cops, and blame the victims of crime for not attending CAP meetings. That said, at least he opposes Mayor NAFTA-punks' hand-picked school board of MBA morons. Somewhere, Alderman O'Conner is laughing at us.
ReplyDeleteFolks... These are the clowns you voted for. And these are the clowns that they meritously appoint to Cap and Above rank.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve this quality of service. Keep voting Democratic or RINO.