Saturday Dec. 7, 2019   |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

In the Squad Room - The Year of Car Thefts

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

Intelligence Officer Giese and Crime Analyst Ring reported three car thefts last week, bringing the total to 64 since January.  A map shared in the meeting showed thefts in every part of Evanston, with most of them occurring along main thoroughfares and transit routes – Chicago Avenue, Green Bay, McCormick and Howard.

In the past, many of Evanston’s car thefts involved altering or “peeling” the steering column (something anyone with a screwdriver can pull off, but only on some cars).  Now, according to Crime Analyst Ring, most of the thefts appear to involve keys left in cars.  So please note: If you have a valet key in your glove compartment, remove it now. A good place to look if you have a late model vehicle, is in your car’s owner’s manual.  Sometimes valet keys are there.

There was a lot to report on at this week’s meeting, since it covered the period of 11/20 – 12/4.  The goods news? No residential or commercial burglaries in two solid weeks. Details follow.

Now the rest of the news...

Weekly crime map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Meeting – December 4, 2019 

Discussed at the meeting:

• The #1 topic for the meeting centered around a shooting that occurred around 7 PM in the 700 block of Sherman on 11/20.
• A woman walking her dog was shot in the leg when gunfire emanated from a speeding car. Cops received multiple Shots Fired calls. The investigation did lead to the recovery of two firearms, six 9mm shell, and two juveniles in custody. One juvenile was in possession of a handgun and the other had an arrest warrant. Neither juvenile was charged with the shooting but that could change as the investigation continues. The victim was taken to St. Francis Hospital where she was treated and released. 
• The aforementioned shooting raised the subject of safety issues for cops and citizens. According to Chief Cook, in the past two months, there have been three murders in a small area just south of Evanston in Rogers Park. The EPD will be stepping up patrols along Howard Street and is working with the District Commander in Chicago’s 24^th District (that’s Rogers Park) to address gun violence.
• On 12/3, cops called to the scene of a burglary in progress in the 600 block of Oakton, were able to apprehend Ethan Alexander, who was found with burglary proceeds.
• Thieves appear to be doing some holiday shopping without spending a dime: there were 12 retail thefts in the downtown area, with plunder ranging from personal care items to small appliances, food and liquor. The EPD is responding with additional patrols. Last week, cops caught one perp red-handed.
• Three vehicles – a 1999 Toyota, a 2014 Kia and 2010 Volvo - were stolen between 11/20 and 11/30. Keys were left in two of the three vehicles. The Toyota has been recovered. 
• The City of Evanston’s decision to use recreational marijuana revenue to fund Council-approved reparations has elicited hate email. Hate crimes can rise to the level of felonies; EPD’s Detective Bureau is keeping watch. Note: A Town Hall to discuss the City’s Reparation Program is scheduled at the 1524 Simpson on 12.11 at 7 PM. Actor Danny Glover will be in attendance.
• Four individuals have been identified by the CPD for the Howard L platform murder that took place at 12:30 PM on 11.26. Macksantino Webb, later pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital, was standing on the platform when he was shot by an assailant. Two men with gang affiliations are in police custody. There are warrants for two others.
• Yes, it’s often juveniles: Police noticed a bike leaning up against a vehicle on 12/1. A juvenile was found inside the car and charged with Criminal Trespass.
• Calling all cops: The EPD is anticipating potentially long lines at Evanston’s single dispensary on 1/1/2020. Stay tuned for details.  By the way, a field sobriety test for cannabis intoxication will be available mid-summer in 2020.
• Public Safety: Local law enforcement agencies have been alerted to the distribution of Mexican Oxy, a street drug being sold as OxyContin. The small blue pills, stamped M30, are counterfeits with dangerous and possibly fatal amounts of Fentanyl.
• Death investigations during the period: One on 11/21 for an individual found dead at a downtown hotel. The M.E. has ruled the death a suicide.
• Traffic Sgt. Williams reported these highlights from IDOT’s Thanksgiving Safety Campaign that ran from 11/22 until 12/2: 58 seatbelt violations (including 5 failures to secure a child) 22 cell phone citations, 7 speeding tickets and 1 DUI. There were 109 citations issued altogether.
• Cops were called to the 1900 block of Asbury on 12/3 for a burglary in progress. The perp appeared to be intoxicated and refused to leave the property.. He was charged with Criminal Trespass.
• Assistant Communications Coordinator Kuempel reported the (expected) four texts from an individual in Des Plaines reporting the (expected) wacky goings-on a street there, three noise complaints and a report of a potentially dangerous burn pile.
• They were there: PST (Problem Solving Team officers) led safety sessions at several local institutions and businesses, attended Willard School and Rice Center Thanksgiving events, and participated in several FAAM (Fellowship of African American Men) events. Commander Garner also attended a 24^th District (Rogers Park) District Advisory Council meeting in preparation for launching a similar program in Evanston next year.

The week ahead

• I regret to say there will be no In The Squad Rooms the weeks of December 23^rd and 30^th, since the meetings those weeks fall on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve and have been canceled.
• Look for members of the PST at the Holiday Tree Lighting on 12/7 and the Reparations Town Hall meeting on 12/11. They’ll also attend Project Bridge and West End Block Club meetings, along with several FAAM events. Commander Garner reports that Animal Warden Pounds issued two tickets near the South Boulevard Beach for dog-related violations.

Inquiring minds: What does "Long Days" mean, as it relates to the Evanston Police Department?

Here is some EPD jargon, including long days, that come up pretty regularly at the Deployment Meeting.

Beats – Define sectors of the city.  There are eight of them. (View the map here.)  Depending on population density and activity levels, there can be anywhere from 1-2 police officers assigned to a particular beat.  Beat 73, the downtown area, is the densest.

Critical Reach – This multi-city communications program shares potentially relevant criminal activity information that may have an impact on many communities.  For example, a series of convenience store robberies in Skokie or Wilmette may link to an incident in Evanston. Likewise for gun violence.

DAP – Directed Area Patrol.  A DAP can either be a weeks-long assignment to keep special watch on holiday shoppers in the downtown area or an incident-based report of potential criminal activity in a specific area based on trends or intelligence information.

Long Days – Most police officers work a “four-on, two-off” work schedule.  The second of the four workdays includes two additional hours – a ‘long day’.  These two hours are earmarked for special crime-fighting activities like safety initiatives in a specific area, foot patrols, or a highly visible preventative presence.

Missions – These are defined by the Evanston Police Department as Mission 1, Mission 2 and Mission 3.  Missions 1 and 2 are currently assigned to gang/violence suppression in a designated area. Mission 3 is traffic enforcement in a designated area to reduce traffic crashes and reported crime. 

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.

What would you like to know about what the Evanston Police Department is doing to fight crime? Let us know if you have specific questions or concerns about issues in your neighborhood. Submissions are always welcome at police@cityofevanston.org or by calling the community strategies bureau at 847-866-5019.  

Subscribe to Evanston’s Daily Crime Report by email or view the Monthly Crime Statistics that are reported on a yearly basis to the FBI.

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.

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.