Friday, April 9, 2021 | 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.
Cops and community members at the Asian American Support Vigil on 4/1.
It isn’t every week that a local resident who is a 1) Harvard grad; 2) former U of C Assistant Professor of Mathematics; state senator; gubernatorial candidate; and 3) Mayor-elect joins the weekly Deployment Meeting. Daniel Biss was in the squad room, virtually, for this week’s Deployment Meeting. He takes office on 5/10.
Crime Analyst Ring summarized a mostly ‘quiet week’ in Evanston, with one residential burglary, two motor vehicle burglaries and two robberies. Details follow.
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Deployment Meeting – April 7, 2021
- Indecent: A woman stated that while walking her dog around 9:30 AM in the 500 block of Lee on 4/7, she noticed a young man looking at her and engaging in behavior most people do in private. According to Crime Analyst Ring, there were several similar incidents in the area this past January.
- Force was used to gain entry into a residence in the 800 block of Foster on 4/7. A computer was reported missing.
- Crimes of opportunity: Unlocked vehicles were burglarized; between 4/3 and 4/4 in the 600 block of Brummel and on 4/5 in the 1000 block of Davis.
- The EPD received a report of a robbery at Twiggs Park around 9 PM on 4/2. The caller told police that a group of people (5 males, 2 females) emerged from an alley, threw him to the ground and punched him before robbing him of his wallet, Air Pods, iPhone and cash. Police were able to recover these items (minus the cash) in the park. Investigators are reviewing security video footage.
- A victim reported that as he was returning home from work just after midnight on 4/2 in the 800 block of Dobson, he was approached by two male subjects (one wearing a black hoodie and the second wearing a blue hoodie) who asked him “for everything”. The second robber pressed what felt like a gun against his back. The pair fled eastbound on Dobson after taking his gold necklace, bracelet, Timberland boots and $40 in cash. Detectives are investigating.
- A grant proposal is underway to secure funds, available through Jan Schakowsky’s office, for gunshot detection technology that, through strategically placed sensors, alerts the police. Chief Cook says that the technology differentiates between gunfire and fireworks and will shorten law enforcement response time. Stay tuned.
- Between 3/31 and 4/4 there were reports of shots fired in these locations: the 1700 block of Oak, South Boulevard and Chicago, and the 300 block of Custer. All areas were checked with negative results.
- There have been numerous calls for service in the area of the Sherman Plaza Parking Garage this year. Last week, Corey Sanders was arrested for refusing to leave when requested by security. Incidents involving persons experiencing homelessness in the downtown area and parking garages continue to raise concerns.
- Extra patrols have been deployed in the downtown area to thwart retail thefts at two locations and address aggressive panhandling issues.
- All watch commands reported increased police presence along Howard, in the neighborhoods where recent shootings have occurred, and in the Main-Chicago area.
- On 3/31, TAC detectives conducted a traffic stop at Golf and Karlov in Skokie and made contact with the driver, Jeilin Harris-Thomas. Harris-Thomas had an active Probation Violation Warrant stemming from an Evanston gun arrest in 2018 and was taken into custody without incident.
- A bike was stolen from an unlocked garage in the 2000 block of Maple.
- Community Strategies (PST – the Problem Solving Team) continued their efforts to resolve issues at problem properties. They attended the Citizen Police Academy and 2nd Ward meeting.
- Thanks to Northshore University HealthSystem for sharing this video commemorating Covid Remembrance Week (3/23-3/26).
The Week Ahead
- Communications Coordinator Voss reported that two new 911 communicators will soon join ranks in the 911 Communications Center.
- ETHS students (in a hybrid format) return to campus on 4/14.
They don't look like this
For the answer, I turned to Recreation Manager Ray Doerner who works for the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.
It turns out that I should have rephrased the question. For many decades – at least as long as anyone can remember – there have been year ‘round park rangers in Evanston like the two we have now. This year, they will be joined by three seasonal workers.
Here’s what he told me:
“We have two part time, year round Park Rangers who work 5 PM – 11PM on weekdays and 3 PM – 11PM on weekends. Each day of the week they are assigned geographies that allow them to visit most of the city’s 76 parks over the course of their workweek.
In addition to monitoring the actual condition of the parks for broken equipment or other hazards, they interact with the public. During the warmer months, for instance, they patrol our lakefront beaches to make sure that people are following the posted rules at the swimming beaches. We issue permits for special events or birthday parties inside the parks, so they’ll check on those.
They’re equipped with police radios at the beginning of each shift, to listen to calls and communicate with the EPD. If there’s a complaint about loud music in a park, for example, a park ranger can respond to the incident. Most of the time, nuisance calls at city parks or the lakefront – people there after hours or consuming alcohol - don’t require law enforcement.
This year, we’re trying something new to provide more coverage; bringing on seasonal staff from late May to late September, our busiest season. We acknowledge that parks, beaches and other public spaces can be busy and require support before 3 PM on weekends and before 5 PM on weekdays when our permanent Park Rangers are not scheduled. So this is an attempt to alleviate demands placed on the EPD for what are very minor incidents.
The skillset for our seasonal workers is the same as our permanent park rangers. For starters, they must be 21 with a valid driver’s license since they operate city vehicles on the job. Knowing Evanston is a plus. A security background can be beneficial, too, but it’s not required. Customer service experience is important; being able to talk to people, approach groups, understand situations and de-escalate them is critical. A potentially dangerous encounter requires a radio call to the EPD. Park Rangers can issue citations, but are not law enforcement.
For us, issuing a citation is a last resort. We see ourselves as ambassadors for our parks and beaches, calmly explaining the rules and giving citizens the opportunity to comply.”
Know anyone interested in becoming a Seasonal Park Ranger?
Sounds like a great gig – fresh air, sunshine and the use of a police radio.
Three positions will be posted on the City of Evanston Website, Seasonal Recreation Jobs. Check here.
Thanks to Recreation Manager Ray Doerner for his contribution to this issue.
Have a question for us? We’re always looking for reader input and suggestions. You can include questions for the Traffic Bureau. Just send them to Commander Garner, put In The Squad Room in the subject line and we'll answer them in a future issue.
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 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.
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