Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights
In the Squad Room - Unlucky Seven: Residential Burglaries
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
EPD's newly minted recruits - Alexander Bomer and Amanda Fernandez
On 8/31, Evanston Police charged Loren Brown with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault. The incident took place 7/26 when a 19-year-old female was attacked behind 140 Chicago Ave. in the early morning hours. The offender, then a Chicago resident, sexually assaulted the victim who also suffered facial injuries in the attack.
Evidence collected by detectives identified Brown as the offender. An arrest warrant was issued for Brown who was arrested by Centralia (Illinois) Police on 8/30. EPD detectives transported Brown to the Evanston Police Department and charged him with 1 felony count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault. He is currently being held at the Cook County Jail.
Crime Analyst Ring and Detective Tortorello recapped a week notable for its residential burglaries – three in the neighborhoods surrounding NU and four on the south end of town.
Now the rest of the news.
Weekly Crime Map
Click to enlarge
Deployment Meeting – September 4, 2019
Discussed at the meeting:
- Traffic Sgt. Williams provided the highlights of the IDOT Labor Day campaign. There were 232 tickets handed out to motorists and this time, seat belt violations (41%) beat out cell phones (30%). The balance were for assorted violations. The good news: no DUIs.
- On 9/2, an incident in the 200 block of Wesley first thought to be an aggravated battery turned out to be a self-inflicted, accidental gunshot wound.
- The week’s residential burglaries clustered in NU’s off–campus housing neighborhood and the south end of town. North end burglaries (the 2100 block of Maple, the 2100 block of Orrington and the 2100 block of Ridge) occurred between 8/26 and 8/31 and did not show evidence of forced entry.
- In three of the four south end burglaries (two units in a building in the 700 block of South Blvd., and individual incidents in the 400 block of Sherman and the 600 block of Oakton) that happened between 8/28 and 9/1, offenders entered by cutting window screens. A resident of the South Blvd. address observed the offender exiting a second floor window and called 9-1-1. According to Crime Analyst Ring, these incidents follow a pattern observed in recent burglaries – north end burglaries later at night, south end burglaries in late afternoons/early evenings.
- This spike in residential burglaries means that more bureaus (and more cops) will be deployed in suppression tactics where break-ins have occurred. These activities include officers in plainclothes, unmarked cars and increased patrols.
- Here’s a tip: It’s tempting to leave windows open and enjoy the fresh fall air after a summer of air conditioning, but please lock your windows, especially those on the first floor. Make sure to lock your front and back doors, too.
- According to Assistant Communications Coordinator Curt Kuempel, the week’s Text-a-Tip was a single report of underage drinking.
- Apparently cyclists, motorists and pedestrians need to mend fences in this bike-friendly city. The EPD continues to hear complaints about cyclists who continually ignore the rules of the road. The EPD will be stepping up its public awareness efforts on the subject. Cops will also be handing out more tickets to offenders on both sides of this argument.
- EPD continues to be hawkish on the budget and is always looking for ways to save money without sacrificing services. One idea is replacing some of the department’s aging Ford Police Interceptor SUVs with special law enforcement-outfitted Ford Focuses, saving the City about $15K per vehicle. The EPD currently maintains a fleet of about 50 SUVs. Commander Glew says that the Ford Focus is being used successfully by many other police departments.
- Congratulations to new EPD Officers Amanda Bomer and Alexander Fernandez, (pictured above) who were sworn in on 8/30.
- On 8/28, a woman was robbed of her purse as she was leaving a grocery store in the 1200 block of Chicago Avenue. Her purse was recovered, but it was missing $350. She was able to provide a description of the offender to police.
- Primary deployment for the PST (Problem Solving Team) during this period were foot patrols in Beats 77 and 78 along with monitoring the downtown area for homeless issues. They attended OGA, (Officer & Gentleman Academy) Police Explorers, CPA (Citizen Police Academy), FAAM and 1st Ward meetings and were on hand for the Mason Park Picnic and Saturday’s Farmers Market.
The Week Ahead
- Main Street, from Ridge to Florence, will be closed starting at 11AM on Sunday, 9/8 for Streets Alive!. The eco-themed event runs from Noon to 5 PM.
- Look for PST officers at CPA, FAAM and STAR (Skills to Achieve Results) sessions, the Farmers Market and, of course, at Five-O Fitness (see item below).
- The second annual Five-O Fitness event will be hosted by the Evanston Police Department, E-Town Fitness Club, and YoFresh. The event will be held on Saturday 9/7, 10 AM–Noon at E-Town Fitness Club located at 2401 Main. E-Town coaches will provide the 60-minute workout for the day followed by some healthy eating tips. Admission is $10 at the door, and you must be 18 years or older to participate. Proceeds support Curt’s Café. For more information call 847-868-8995 (E-Town Fitness Club) or 847-448-4311.
- This being the Armored Car’s favorite time of the year, expect to see in locations where residential burglaries have occurred in the past two weeks.
Inquiring Minds
Inquiring Minds: Securing Your Bike Part 2 – The Bike Shops Strike Back
Executive Commander Glew was so inspired by a reader question on bike security that he took it upon himself to talk with experts at four area bike shops. Here is the second and final installment of his explorations.
“All the Evanston bike shops were very helpful in providing tips to thwart would-be bike thieves. In addition to the makes-sense anti-theft suggestions they offered last week, each had additional thoughts to share.
Bucephalus Bikes - 1424 Lake St.
We spoke to Cecelia who emphasized the value and importance of registering your bike with the city and keeping the paperwork (serial number) for your bike. Bucephalus not only keeps records for the bikes they sell, but for also the bikes they service.
This is not a theft deterrent, but if your bike is stolen, it can increase the chances of its safe return. When you file a police report, you’ll be asked for your bike’s serial number. If you don’t have it, the EPD or departments in other jurisdictions won’t know, if found, that it’s been stolen and you won’t get it back. It will end up being inventoried by police and eventually auctioned off.
True story: When Commander Glew was in training his Field Training Officer stopped a suspicious person on an expensive bike. Since the bike’s owner had given its serial number to police, a database search revealed that the bike had been stolen from Seattle. Police were able to contact the owner with news that the bike had been recovered.
Everyday Cycles and Motion - 941 Chicago Ave.
We spoke to Liz, who owns Everyday Cycles and Motion. True to the name of her shop, she had advice for those that use their bikes every day.
As people are going “car-free” or “car-light”, their bikes become more valuable to their daily lives. She says that the value of the bike to your daily life is the value that should determine how much money and effort you spend to secure it.
If you commute using a $400.00 bike, consider what that bike means to you. You may need an expensive lock (or more than one lock) because you need that bike to be where you left it, so that you can get home. In some cases, going car-free or car-light may require an expensive specialty or cargo bike, so not only is the bike valuable to you, it may be desirable to thieves.
Follow this advice to KNOCK OUT (metaphorically) bike thieves.
Pony Shop – 1224 Chicago Ave.
Chris and Elliot at the Pony Shop told me that how and where you use your bike is important in deciding how to secure it.
They advise having a serious conversation with the bike shop staff for an informed decision on what lock to buy and what measures to take. An ETHS student who rides her bike to and from school may not need as secure a lock as a student who tends to leave it overnight or for days at a time.
A knowledgeable salesperson can give you the informed advice that fits your situation.
Wheel and Sprocket – 1027 Davis St.
We spoke to Liam and he shared the wisdom that applies to any theft: the more difficult you make it, the more time it will take and the less likely it is that your bike will be stolen.
Given time, skill and experience, any theft protection system can be defeated. The more time it takes to defeat your lock(s), the less likely your bike will be stolen. This can be done through the use of multiple locks, the best locks, locks placed in awkward positions, missing seats or wheels … anything that will take time to defeat.”
Thanks to the owners and staff of Evanston’s great bike shops for taking time to speak with us with their insights on how our residents and commuters can secure their bikes.
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.
Did you want to grow up to be a fireman? Here’s your chance (sort of).
EPD’s Citizen Fire Academy registration closes September 11
It’s not too late to enroll in the Citizen Fire Academy in 2019! The first class was held on September 4, but there are nine sessions and a few slots remaining.
The program consists of brief classroom discussions but the primary focus is on hands-on exercises. In addition to learning all about Evanston’s Fire Department, you will suit up just like first responders, pull hoses, climb ladders, put out fires (all in a controlled environment), get certified in CPR and ride-along with the brave men and women of the EFD. You’ll also enjoy some of that famous firehouse cuisine on your ride-along day.
Interested? Enter CFA Enrollment in the subject line and email FAO(Fire Apparatus Operator)/CFA Director Tim Gobat at tgobat@cityofevanston.org
Classes are held once a week on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. for 10 weeks. There is one academy per year held in the fall that is limited to 20 students. There is no fee for anyone who enrolls.
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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