Friday, April 16, 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.
Reported Asian American hate crimes surged by almost 150% in 2020
It’s no secret that Asian-American hate crimes are on the rise. Using media reports from across the country, The New York Times tallied more than 110 episodes since March 2020 where there was clear evidence of Asian-based hatred. They reported episodes coast-to coast “mostly in big cities with large Asian populations, but in small towns too, like Stevens Point, Wisconsin.” There have been nearly 3,800 reports of incidents targeting the Asian community since the start of the pandemic. Last week, the EPD received a report of a similar crime right here in Evanston. Yes, here.
A female walking near Grove and Maple on 4/13 reported that she was approached by an unknown subject pushing a shopping cart. The subject asked the victim whether she was Vietnamese. After she crossed the street, he threw a stick at her, missing. This is how it begins.
Chief Cook wants Evanstonians to know that the EPD is working to monitor and tamp down these events.
Crime Analyst Ring and Detective Giese noted a single car theft, two motor vehicle burglaries, two successful catalytic converter thefts, a package theft and a garage burglary. Details follow.
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Deployment Meeting – April 14, 2021
- Two catalytic converter thefts and one attempt were reported during this deployment period. Around 3 AM on 4/12, a citizen reported hearing the sound of metal against metal (in the 600 block of Michigan). The would-be crook(s) split before cops arrived. More successful capers netted ‘cats’ from the 1500 block of South on 4/13 and the 1100 block of Church on 4/7. Here’s what you can do to protect your vehicle:
- Park your vehicle in the garage, if you have one.
- If you park on the street, park under a streetlight, if possible.
- Purchase an anti-theft shield or cage for your catalytic converter. They range in price from $60 -300 and can be purchased online. Reputable mechanics charge between $50-100 to install them. If these devices don’t prevent a thief from removing your cat, they will at least present an obstacle.
- A victim stated that on 4/12 around 10 PM, she was meeting a friend in the 1200 block of Darrow when she was approached by two offenders who tried to rob her. She attempted to flee and one of the robbers struck her in the mouth with a handgun.
- Cash was removed from a vehicle and tools taken from an unlocked garage in the 700 block of Asbury between 4/11 and 4/12.
- A traffic stop at Green Bay and Emerson on 4/11 resulted in the arrest of Trenton Hunt. Hunt was taken into custody for driving without a valid driver’s license. A search of his vehicle revealed 91 grams (3 times the legal limit) of cannabis. He was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver along with various traffic offenses.
- Between 4/11 and 4/12, two unlocked vehicles parked on the street in the 900 block of Washington were burglarized. It’s also notable that a 2002 Toyota Corolla was stolen at the same location that night.
- Just one package theft this week from a residence in the 600 block of Hull Terrace.
- On 3/18, the EPD’s Special Operations Group (SOG), with assistance from the CCSPD (Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department) and the FBI, executed a search warrant for the Chicago residence of Reginald Boclair. Multiple weapons and a large amount of cash were located. Boclair’s brother, Anthony Davis, who was home at the time, was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and various misdemeanor charges. On 4/7, EPD SOG officers took Boclair into custody and charged him with multiple counts of delivery of a controlled substance. This concluded a six-month investigation by the Evanston SOG.
- Community Strategies (PST – the Problem Solving Team) continued patrolling hotspots and resolving issues at locations throughout the city over the course of the week. Members also attended meetings and sessions with Leadership Evanston, the Homelessness Task Force, and Citizen's Police Academy.
The Week Ahead
- Protest preparedness plans are in place here and in Chicago to keep the peace in the wake of local, state or national responses to officer involved shooting events.
- The Armored Car is set to come out of hibernation once temperatures average in the 40s. Eco-friendly and all-electric, its batteries don’t tolerate the cold very well.
From time to time over the past two years, upgrading the department’s two-way radios was the subject of discussion at deployment meetings. Initially, those discussions centered around evaluating models to replace the department’s aging system. Due diligence completed, the topic became procurement and implementation.
Now, over six months in, I was asked to report on how things are going. For the second time in less than a month, Acting Communications Manager Christopher Voss took my call.
When were these radios purchased and what did they replace?
The contract for the purchase of the Starcom21- capable radios was approved by Evanston City Council on Nov 25th, 2019. (Note: Starcom21 is a statewide public safety trunked radio system in Illinois owned and operated by Motorola Solutions; the State of Illinois is a major partner in the system.) The project was completed and the digital radios were deployed in Sept 2020. They replaced the department's legacy UHF radio system and radios which were 15 years old.
How many were ordered and who gets them?
The inventory is made up of 220 portable radios and 10 mobile radios. Some radios are shared with partners of the agency (for example, Park Rangers, School Districts, NUPD, Civic Center and Library Security.)
Was special funding needed to purchase them?
The total cost of the equipment purchase was $1.4 million. The city entered into a lease agreement to fund the purchase over 7 years. Funding for the purchase comes from the Emergency Telephone System budget.
How are they different than the old ones?
The digital radios and Starcom21 system represent a capability upgrade in interoperability, signal strength, reliability and transmission distance, system security and radio features. All communications, for instance, are encrypted.
Do they integrate with surrounding agency communication systems?
Yes. The radios and platform allow the department to have greater interoperability with surrounding agencies like Skokie, Wilmette and other Cook County Departments. Chicago PD still uses a UHF system, which the majority of the radios do not support. The department monitors CPD activity through other means.
Are radios assigned to specific officers or do they pick them up at the beginning of each shift?
Radios are assigned to specific officers. The radios are programmed to identify the transmitting officer to both field units and dispatch.
How much training was required?
Officers and dispatchers were very familiar with portable radios and their functions, so not much training was needed. A brief training on the new functions of the radio was completed just before the system rollout. As a part of the project, some members of the Communications Center learned to do the in-house programming of the radios, so that we can stay on top of the issues and fix them as they arise.
How’s it going so far?
The feedback has been positive in general.
And here are some fun facts from me:
- The first two-way mobile police radio was developed and placed in service by Australia’s Victoria Police Department in 1923.
- Back then, Amplitude Modulation (AM) mobile transmitters took up the entire back seat of a squad car.
- Frequency drift was a serious problem in the 1920s and 1930s. Result: “Calling all cars” could be interrupted by the Grand Ole Opry.
- Motorola (then known as Galvin Manufacturing Company) was, and remains, the pioneer in advancing police radio technology.
Have a question for us? We’re always looking for reader input and suggestions. 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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