Friday, October 23, 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.

Student Protests in Evanston

Keeping the peace during a protest

Crime Analyst Ring noted a busier week for property crimes – vehicle break-ins, package and bicycle thefts, plus the return of catalytic converter thefts (three in a period of four days). The topic that dominated this week’s meeting, however, were the evolving street closures and safety measures associated with NU student protests advocating the disbanding of the NUPD.

For the past 12 days, the ‘NU Community, Not Cops’ group has staged daily protests in various locations across Evanston, with times and locations announced via social media the same day or night before. The events have drawn large crowds.

A protest that began in Floyd Long Field ended in front of the home of university president Morton Schapiro. Surrounding area law enforcement officers and bicycle-mounted officers were on hand to keep the peace. Schapiro has repudiated protests that have sometimes resulted in fires, destruction of property and vandalism. He issued a public statement on 10/19 that read: “An essential aspect of education is the discernment of actions and consequences. If you, as a member of the Northwestern community, violate rules and laws, I am making it abundantly clear that you will be held accountable.” Chief Cook echoed these sentiments by stating that vandalism will not be tolerated.

The EPD is working closely with the NUPD to keep the peace in what promises to be an ongoing protest.

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Deployment Meeting– October 21, 2020

• Howard Street (Chicago side) shooting: On 10/20, a victim was shot in the ankle around 7:30 PM. He was treated and released from St. Francis Hospital. CPD detectives have reviewed security camera footage.
• A 2005 GMC truck was stolen from the driveway of a resident in the 2400 block of Church between 10/17 and 10/18.
• All three of the catalytic converter thefts happened in Beat 71 (the southwest end) between 10/11 and 10/15. Thieves targeted Toyotas and Hondas as they have in the past and continue to favor higher-riding SUVs that allow for easy undercarriage access.
• There were five burglaries of unlocked vehicles in these locations: the 1500 block of Seward, the 700 block of Sherman, the 600 block of Elmwood, the 1100 block of Darrow, and the 100 block of Wesley. A window was broken to gain access to a locked vehicle in the parking lot of a business in the 2400 block of Main.
• Cash was reported missing on 10/14 from an apartment in the 2400 block of Central. There was no indication of forced entry.
• There were two arrests for domestic battery this week.
• Package thefts are on the rise, this week clustering on the south end, along Chicago and Hinman. According to the Crime Analyst, thieves continue to strike condo and apartment building common areas during weekday work hours. There were 6 this week. Consider pickup at UPS, USPS, Amazon, Walmart (or other service locations) to thwart thieves and check out this video featuring Officer Howard and yep, Crime Analyst Ring.
• Homeless issues continue at the Sherman Plaza Parking Garage where a security company has been hired to help monitor the facility. EPD patrol officers continue to work with organizations to find solutions for homeless individuals who congregate there, area parks and bus shelters.
• They were there: Members of the PST (Problem Solving Team) and patrol officers continue to monitor the daily NU protests. CPA (Citizen Police Academy) classes continue (virtually).
• Most of the week’s four reported bike thefts happened downtown and in the NU area, secured to bike racks. Police believe that the bikes were left locked up overnight.

The Week Ahead

• Members of the PST will be Zooming into the 3rd Ward meeting, but you can see officers live and in person, masked of course, at the Farmers Market on 10/24.
• Early voting for the 2020 presidential election started Monday, 10/19 at the Evanston Civic Center. Weekday hours are 8:30 AM – 7 PM. There’s more information, including weekend hours, here. You can also find a ballot box for mail-in ballots on the first floor. 
• Reminder: Evanston's trick-or-treat hours are Saturday, 10/31 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Find helpful guidelines for celebrating safely here.  
• The Annual Gun Buyback event is scheduled for 12/5. 

Inquiring Minds- Encountering Individuals Who Appear to be Mentally Ill

Here’s a missive we received from Reader F.M. (along with answers from Sgt. Scott Sophier):

This afternoon as I was driving home, I passed a man walking in the street and breaking into outbursts of shouting incoherently every 20 seconds or so. I grew up in Chicago and have worked in or near downtown Chicago for 40 years, and most always used public transportation every weekday, so I've seen my share of people who appear to be mentally ill. My questions are:   

1. When should a citizen call the police about a person who appears to be (a) mentally ill, and (b) very angry (and thus potentially violent)? Generally, I'm not frightened by mentally ill people, and just walk by them.  However, we know that sometimes they lash out at strangers.  And, they do frighten some citizens. In the past, I've rarely if ever reported them to the police. Now, I'm wondering if I should (for their benefit, the public's benefit, or both).

Scott says: “A citizen should call the police regarding a person who appears to be suffering from mental afflictions when it appears they are in need of assistance to maintain their health or safety. The goal of the Evanston Police Department is to provide those in need of help with the appropriate resources, whether those be immediate resources, or information for ongoing help. It will always be a judgement call on the part of the citizen whether or not to call.

We encourage citizens to call based on current actions of an individual as opposed to the presumption that an individual will lash out at others. Anger in and of itself could be indicative of a need for help, but, generally speaking, an evaluation of the totality of the circumstances is the best way to determine whether or not to call the police to check the well-being of an individual. The public and the recipient of mental health services can benefit together from the assistance provided by the various City departments. Also, nearly 100 sworn members of the Evanston Police Department are certified Crisis Intervention trained (CIT) officers. This training stresses patient communication and de-escalation, and this undoubtedly leads to increased safety for all involved.”

2. If one should notify the police, which is the preferred way of doing so (e.g., text, 911, or the non-emergency number)?  

Scott again: “The preferred way to contact the Evanston Police Department for issues related to mental health is to call 9-1-1, or the non-emergency number – (847) 866-5000. Text is not necessarily the preferred method to initiate a response to these matters. If there appears to be an immediate threat to life or safety, definitely call 9-1-1. Other situations, for example, when a citizen simply wants to call in a wellness check, the non-emergency call number is fine. When in doubt, however, call 9-1-1. That's exactly what we're here for!”

Thanks for this and other great questions we’ve received in the past couple of weeks. We will answer them all in the next few posts. Keep them coming, please. Email them to us and if you type In The Squad Room in the subject line, they’ll find their way to me.

Thanks to Sergeant Scott Sophier for his help this week.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.