Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights
In the Squad Room - Suspect In Custody
Every week, Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s deployment meetings, takes notes on various topics, and writes about other police-related matters of interest to ordinary citizens like her.
This Week's Highlights
Officers, young gentlemen and others at the NU/Purdue game
This Week’s Crime map displayed an icon we rarely see on the map – a black circle with a capital H inside. Homicide.
Thirty-three year old Angel Miranda, found in an 1800 block of Simpson backyard, was Evanston’s first – and hopefully last – murder victim of 2019. Cops called to the scene of a death investigation by the victim’s girlfriend on 3/8 found him with numerous gunshot wounds to the torso. Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) investigated. Early on, it appeared that this was not a random incident.
On 3/14, Evanston Police and NORTAF charged Sandoval Cobian with two counts of First Degree Murder in connection with Miranda's death. The investigation revealed that the assailant was also romantically involved with Miranda's girlfriend. The murder was fueled by romantic rivalry and jealousy. Cobain, charged with First Degree Murder, is being held without bond at the Cook County Department of Corrections.
On other fronts, it was an extremely uneventful week for crime. In addition to the two residential burglaries, two vehicle burglaries and two shots fired calls (in which nothing was located), the second-most notable incident of the week was this sad fact: Taggers assaulted the Armored Car with spray paint in it’s first venture into the great outdoors on 3/12. A Pyrrhic victory if ever there was one – not only is the A.C. resistant to spray paint, it’s outfitted with something like twelve surveillance cameras.
Now the rest of the news.
Weekly Crime Map
Click to enlarge
Deployment Meeting – March 14, 2019
Discussed at the meeting:
- Habitual shoplifter Melissa Mackey was arrested twice during the deployment period – on 3/6 and 3/12, for stealing liquor from a downtown retail store.
- Attention continues to focus on the south end of Evanston. According to Crime Analyst Ring, there have been 22 residential burglaries there since 12/1. A pattern has emerged in the more recent incidents; break-ins tend to occur in Beat 78 between noon and about 4 PM. Pry or other tools are used to force back doors to gain entry.
- Related: There were two residential burglaries this week (a reduction from last week). A window was broken to gain access to a home in the 1900 block of Jackson on 3/8. Residents didn’t report anything missing. On 3/12, burglars forced a rear door to gain entry to an apartment in the 100 block of Clyde. Office equipment was taken.
- Police are attempting to identify a dozing coffee shop customer, who, when awakened on 3/11, attacked two individuals and injured one of them before fleeing on a bicycle.
- Two unlocked vehicles were burglarized on 3/11 in the 3300 block of Culver. Owners did not report anything missing.
- On 3/7, a street stop resulted in the arrest of Robert McLuckie, who was found in possession of 6000 rounds of ammo. McLuckie did not have a valid FOID card.
- 230 pages of detail: Just about everything you want to know about the EPD can be found in the Evanston Police Department 2018 Annual Report.
- Assistant Communications Coordinator Kuempel notes two Text-a-Tips – one for suspected drug activity and the other with information about a suspect.
- More temperate weather has encouraged imbibing al fresco by some of the homeless individuals who inhabit the tunnel near the Davis Street Metra Station. Patrol officers are monitoring the area.
- Seems to happen at least once a week: a 2019 rental car was not returned to a rental agency in the 1800 block of Maple.
- They were there: Members of the PST led several active shooter trainings, attended a 5th Ward meeting and and led STAR, CPA, WEABC and Police Explorers meetings. They also accompanied OGA participants to the NU/Purdue basketball game (pictured above).
The Week Ahead
- The Traffic Bureau would like to remind you that if you plan to hit the Jameson’s, Old Bushmills, Guinness or green beer over the St. Paddy’s Day weekend, assign a designated driver, call a cab or hire a rideshare. IDOT’s four-day “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” campaign has already started and runs through Sunday. Look for the results next week.
- Here’s what’s on PST’s agenda: “Coffee with a Cop” (read below), the 2nd Ward meeting, Career Night at ETHS and the Mayors Summer Youth Job Fair. They continue to patrol Howard Street from the CTA station to Ridge every evening.
- The next "Coffee with a Cop" is scheduled for Thursday, 3/21. The location will be Coffee Lab located at 910 Noyes, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. The café specializes in local roasted specialty coffee and demonstrates goodwill to the community by providing a safe space to connect with others while donating 80% of their profits to charity and non-profit work.
Inquiring Minds
Inquiring Minds: Does Evanston have a SWAT team?
NIPAS EST Truck 1
This IM is also related to a recent reader question: does Evanston PD have a sniper squad?
Answer: Yes and no.
First of all, for those of you who don’t know or remember what SWAT stands for – it’s Special Weapons and Tactics. Specially trained EPD officers are part of a regional team known as NIPAS – the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System. NIPAS's Emergency Services Team is deployed for hostage incidents, major crime scene searches, search and rescue missions and other high-risk tactical incidents.
The team is structured in nine units, each with a unique function. Most are cross-trained to provide backup in certain situations. This tactical squad was founded in 1987. Today, NIPAS has over 70 member agencies – from Addison to Zion. When EPD needs a SWAT Team, NIPAS fills that role.
One member of the EPD who knows all about NIPAS is Detective Brian Rust, a former NIPAS member. According to Detective Rust, any sworn officer in good standing with the EPD can apply when a NIPAS vacancy is announced.
There’s a formal application process that includes an oral interview and a firearms proficiency exam. Within NIPAS Emergency Services Team there are Marksmen, this is the NIPAS term for snipers. Successful candidates complete FBI Sniper School training and pass a shadow period with a current NIPAS Marksman. He said “NIPAS team members are always on call and expected to be mission-ready on a moments notice.”
Currently no EPD officers are assigned as a NIPAS Marksman.
Additionally, NIPAS has a Mobile Field Force, deployed primarily for crowd control and safety measures in labor-related conflicts and social or political demonstrations.
We need more questions...from you...the COMMUNITY! Email them to Commander Glew and we’ll do our best to provide the answers. If you put In The Squad Room in the subject line, they’ll find their way to me.
Gun Buyback Program
The Ongoing Gun Buyback Program allows Evanston residents to turn in an operational firearm to police at any time in exchange for $100. Residents can utilize this service by calling 311 or the Evanston Police Department non-emergency line at 847-866-5000. A police officer will pick up the unwanted firearm at the resident's address and present the resident with a voucher that can be exchanged for $100 at the City Collector’s Office located in the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.
Firearms should not be brought to the police department, unless prior approval has been granted from a supervisor at the police department. An officer will call the resident after a request is made for the officer to come to a person's residence and retrieve the firearm.
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Crime Reports
Citizen Police Academy
If you would like to learn more about the Evanston Police Department, take an active role in community-oriented policing, and join the ranks of over 900 graduates since 1995, please visit the Citizen Police Academy webpage.
There is no cost to anyone who lives or works in Evanston. Getting to know your police force is essential in reducing crime, building trust in the community and serving the needs of the community.
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The weekly deployment report is an informational bulletin prepared by a community member that keeps citizens informed about what police do on a weekly basis. Information contained in this report is not to be considered as a media/press release. Any information considered by a media source from this bulletin needs to be verified by an official from the department. This can be done by contacting the media line at 847-866-5026.
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