Friday July 3, 2020 | View in browser
Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights
Every week, Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings, takes notes on the topics discussed and writes about other police-related matters of interest to the people who work and live in Evanston.
Diversity in the EPD
As Phase 3 of the pandemic morphed into Phase 4 last week, many of us, burglars included, felt a little less constrained. The dip in property crimes that we saw in the early days of COVID-19 has, for one week at least, been replaced by a spike in residential burglaries. There were four last week in homes across Evanston.
Also on the increase, garage burglaries and bicycle thefts, including bikes stolen from unlocked garages. And graffiti. Even so, it was a comparatively quiet week for crime here.
![Deployment Map 7.1.20](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/ILEVANSTON/2020/07/3497624/deployment-map-7-1-20_original.jpg) Click to Enlarge
If there are topics of interest to you, please send them our way.
Past Week
- On 6/29/20 around 2 PM, a resident in the 900 block of Sherman observed, for the third time, an offender firing a shot in the alley. Evidence Technicians located spent rounds. A subject matching the description was observed entering an apartment building in the neighborhood. Detectives are investigating.
- Shots fired reports continue to result in calls for service. Most have been attributed to fireworks.
- A victim was approached, then followed, into a convenience store in the 800 block of Dodge on 6/28. A dustup ensued and the robber made off with the victim’s phone. The victim was transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.
- Running a stop sign at the intersection of Asbury and Church resulted in a traffic citation for Quinn Cahill and charges related to the seizure of an illegal amount of weed on 6/28.
- There were three shooting incidents on 6/28 in the 24th District (Rogers Park). Four individuals were shot; one was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital.
- The residential burglaries that took place between 6/24 and 6/29 included two residences in the 1800 block of Grant on 6/29 (one was an attempt), a single family home in the 100 block of Ridge on 6/26 and the 1600 block of Chicago Avenue. Recent residential burglaries, according to Crime Analyst Ring, appear to indicate that unsecured doors and windows are the points of entry.
- None of the graffiti that appeared in various locations around town were gang-related.
- Package pirates and pickpockets: They’re among us. A victim’s wallet was taken from her purse at a home improvement store in the 2200 block of Oakton on 6/27. And packages were taken from the common areas of apartment buildings in the 1300 block of Pitner on 6/29, the 900 block of Washington and the 2600 block of Bennett, both on 6/26.
- No one knows how a burglar gained entry to an office building in the 1700 block of Ridge, on 6/26 around 9 PM, but credit cards were reported missing.
- In the summer, garage burglars are usually looking for lawn equipment and tools. This time, though, they made off with bicycles; on 6/24 in the 2100 block of Emerson and on 6/27 in the 2100 block of Payne.
- Surprise and no surprise: There was just one motor vehicle break-in during this deployment period. The vehicle, in the 3000 block of Park Place on 6/27, was unlocked. Fortunately, nothing was taken. Please remember to lock your vehicle and keep valuables out of plain sight. It is mind-blowing how many laptops, phones, wallets and purses are taken here every year from unlocked vehicles.
Upcoming Events
- Check out the City of Evanston’s virtual Fourth of July events here.
Inquiring Minds: How diverse is the Evanston Police Department?
The essence of community policing is, in part, based on matching the characteristics of the police force to the population it serves. So how is the EPD doing?
Here’s how the percentages compared, using a recent question posted on the City of Evanston's Police Policies & Training FAQ:
"How many sworn officers and non-sworn employees does the Evanston Police Department currently have, and what is the department’s racial demographic composition?"
The Evanston Police Department has 190 employees, including 138 sworn officers and 52 non-sworn civilian employees. The racial composition of the Department is shown below:
White/Caucasian |
58% |
59% |
African American |
24% |
17% |
Hispanic |
9% |
12% |
Other |
9% |
12% |
Why aren’t there more Latinx/Hispanic, Asian and female officers on the EPD force? According to a Police Executive Research Forum 2019 study I found, recruitment of minorities and females is a real problem for law enforcement nationwide, plus the number of applicants for police officer positions has decreased significantly (36%) over the past five years.
Negative news stories about policing have created tough challenges for recruiting, hiring, and retaining well-qualified police officers, encouraging individuals entering the work force seek other options. In addition, the historical ‘legacy’ aspect of law enforcement and military families no longer produces a steady stream of new recruits.
Property Recovered in Evanston
Think your property may have been recovered by the Evanston PD? Click here to start your search. Be sure to check out the third party service that displays items found within the last 21 days. Here's the link.
Policing in Evanston
Mayor Hagerty's 'Q & A and Discussion Series on Policing in Evanston' begins July 6th at noon. Here's a link to the press release on how to tune in. Please read the City of Evanston's Police Policies and Training FAQ addressing questions and concerns from the community, as well as Evanston Police Chief Releases Statement on George Floyd. While In the Squad Room features are not considered an official media/press release, ITSR wants its readers to know their questions and comments are respected.
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.
![Crime Reports logo](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/ILEVANSTON/2018/06/2004499/crimereports_original.jpg) 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. Take a look at the Evanston Police Department Dashboard.
![citizen police](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/ILEVANSTON/2015/02/438165/2886306/citizen-police-academy-high-res-005-original_crop.jpg) 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.
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