Saturday Jan. 18, 2020   |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

In the Squad Room - High Rise on the Lakefront

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

Clark Square Park, January 11, 2020

Lake Michigan water levels, at a December average of 581.52 feet, appear set to break the historic 1986 record of 581.52 feet. A quick look at the photo above tells the story – picnic tables nearly submerged and trash cans floating in the water near the shoreline.

Evanston’s beaches have lost stretches of shoreline, animal habitats have been disturbed and walkers (runners and cyclists) accustomed to milder lake conditions have been driven off their usual paths. According to one report, Lawrence Hemingway, who is the City’s director of parks, recreation and community services, says that Evanston is developing a plan to present to the City Council. Just this week, cops encouraged a pair of adventurers to abandon a plan to surf at Lee Street Beach. Best bet: keep your distance from the shore, especially on windy days.

Intelligence Officer Giese and Crime Analyst Ring noted a mostly quiet week for crime, with few major events. There was a single residential burglary, several package thefts, two shots fired calls and the usual spate of burglaries to unsecured vehicles. Details follow.

Now the rest of the news...

Weekly crime map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Meeting – January 15, 2020 

Discussed at the meeting:

• On 1/13 around 12:35 AM, cops observed two juveniles apparently breaking into vehicles in the 1300 block of Washington. One of the offenders was found with burglary proceeds and was charged with a curfew violation.
• Also on 1/15, cops responded to a Shots Fired call in the 1100 block of Pitner just after midnight. The window of an apartment there had been shot through. Police were able to retrieve 8 45mm bullet casings.  No one was injured. The incident is thought to be gang-related.
• Wilmette Police are looking for a bank robber who struck a Bank of America branch in the 100 block of Green Bay Road on 1/15. Police are reviewing security video footage.
• While 5 residential burglaries have been reported in the last three weeks, several occurred in the student residence areas near the NU campus during the holiday break. Last week’s residential burglary happened in the 1300 block of Elmwood where burglars entered the apartment by unknown means and made off with a computer and other office equipment.
• Package pirates are at it again, with four incidents reported last week. In a familiar pattern, all were to common areas in apartment and condo buildings.
• On 1/12, police received reports of a red 2011 Chevy van that had crashed into a tree at Sheridan/South. Two subjects were located. Chicago resident Joseph MacDougall was charged with Criminal Trespass to Vehicle.
• Assistant Communications Coordinator Kuempel reported just one Text-a-Tips during the period, with a tipster alerting police to possible drug transactions.
• Commander Garner reported that School Resource Officers (SROs) have transferred to the EPD’s Community Strategies Bureau. During the past week, members of the Problem Solving Team (PST) monitored the MoveOn/Indivisible /Trump/Iran Rally, attended an ETHS career panel ETHS and the Fleetwood Open House and conducted several security assessments and trainings at various locations around town.
• Multi-tasking: Chief Cook will be overseeing Support Services (includes the Office of Administration, Communication Bureau, Service Desk, Records Bureau and Court Liaison) following last week’s retirement of Deputy Commander Dugan.
• Crime cartographer: In addition to spotting and reporting crime trends, Analyst Ring, with some assistance from Information Officer Giese, have initiated development of an interactive map of Evanston’s private and commercial security cameras to assist detectives in collecting evidence. The map will be accessible via mobile device or computer.
• Since the first of the year, the PST (Problem Solving Team) monitored the long line of customers waiting to purchase recreational weed on the opening day of legal sales, were present for First Night Evanston, attended OGA (Officer and Gentleman Academy) and West End Block Club meetings and continued to participate in FAAM (Fellowship of African American Men) events.

The week ahead

• Traffic Sgt. Williams reported that the Traffic Bureau will be monitoring a Walk for Warmth event, led by Clergy Team member Joey Rodger at 11 AM on 1/20 at Church and Hinman.
• Weed Report: According to news sources, customers have spent more than $20 million in cannabis sales in Illinois, making it – despite long lines and shortages - second only to California in sales. (Note that California’s population is roughly 3 times Illinois’.) So far, the EPD has not seen any concerning incidents relating to the 1/1 legalization.
• Soon to arrive: Five new Ford Fusion automobiles. They’ll be used by members of the Special Operations Group. They offer a $15Ker vehicle savings over the fleet of Ford Interceptor SUVs, but will be used primarily by members of the Special Operations Group (SOG).
• Look for members of the PST at the 9^th Ward and Police Explorers meetings, the OGA (Officer and Gentleman Academy) kickoff, and FAAM (Fellowship of African American Men) events. They continue to provide a variety of security assessments and trainings at locations throughout Evanston. 

Inquiring minds:  Does Evanston have a coyote problem?

We have all read or heard recent news stories about coyote attacks on the north side of Chicago.  Those stories have prompted a cascade of Evanston coyote sighting posts on social media and calls to the EPD. Some people, like me, are thrilled to see them in the wild.  Others, especially owners of small dogs and parents of small children, are terrified.

Here is some helpful, and hopefully, reassuring information from the people who have been tracking coyotes in Cook County, Illinois for the past 15 years: the Urban Coyote Research Project:

• Coyotes have adapted well to the Cook County urban environment.
• Recent reports indicate that there are at least 2,000 coyotes in the Chicago area.
• They have larger litters in urban areas than they do in rural areas. The average litter is 4-10 pups.
• They can live to 12 years of age.
• Rabies is uncommon in coyotes.
• Their diet is primarily white-tailed deer, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, voles and chipmunks.
• The risk to humans is low because they tend to avoid us. Attacks on humans are extremely rare.
• Generally, problems with coyotes (like the recent Chicago incidents) are handled by removing the problem animal.
• Coyotes are territorial, and their territories do not overlap.

They also report that until the recent Chicago incident, there are no records of coyote attacks on humans from 1985 – 2018.

Animal Warden Pound, with more than 20 years in the field, receives the bulk of the Evanston coyote calls.  In all that time, he’s heard (same as the rest of us) of only two incidents. He told me, “Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans.” He remarked on the number of dog bite victims in the city and surrounding suburbs: “Given the number of dogs in Cook County, and estimates of coyote populations, it’s clear that anyone’s chances of being bitten or attacked by a coyote are very, very slim.” Infinitesimal, probably. He also pointed out their value in controlling rodent populations.

Hello, neighbor

Here are his tips on peacefully co-existing with our resident coyotes:

• Don‘t feed them. They are thriving on their own. Feeding them only increases the risks associated with a close encounter. They are canines, but they’re more closely related to wolves than our domesticated pets.
• If you’re putting out food for rabbits and squirrels, you are attracting the predator that hunts them.
• Do not leave your pets unattended or off the leash outside (which is against a city ordinance anyhow). Remember that coyotes are territorial and survive by fighting for their food.
• Ditto for small children.
• If you see a coyote, remain calm, keep your distance and go about your business.
• If approached by a coyote, stand your ground and make some noise. Wave your arms around to make yourself big. Don’t encourage the coyote to chase you by running.
• Unless a coyote is aggressive, appears ill or is acting strangely, there’s no need to call the EPD or Animal Control. Coyotes are protected species in Illinois. Normal, healthy animals are not relocated.

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.