Friday, April 23, 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.

Not funny.

Victims of sexual violence will find nothing amusing about a hoax reportedly started by a group of men that has gone viral on social media. According to articles in The Hill and USA Today “a group of men were caught on video encouraging others to follow their lead and engage in sexual assaults on the designated day.” Talk of the video went viral on TikTok and Facebook, causing “panic among users who urged others to stay home on Saturday and avoid risking their personal safety.”

Here’s what our go-to source for internet fact-checking Snopes had to say on the subject: “Whether you call it a joke, prank, troll campaign or a hoax, there is no National Rape Day that provides legal immunity for sexual assault.”

Apropos of criminal sexual acts, there were two more incidents of indecent exposure reported during the deployment period. These, on the 900 blocks of Hinman and Forest during the morning hours, join five prior reports in the same neighborhood. Two of the five victims reported being followed and groped. (See Inquiring Minds at the end of this post for safety tips relating to incidents like these.)

Crime Analyst Ring and Detective Giese reported a week with these highlights: three motor vehicle thefts, a road range incident involving gunfire, and six catalytic converter thefts. Details follow.

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Deployment Meeting – April 21, 2021

• In reference to the Derek Chauvin trial, Chief Cook discussed the need to deploy law enforcement tactics that reduce use of force tactics, to “think, evaluate and learn.” He spoke to a crowd of 100 people at the ‘One Battle Won In The War on Racism’ event on 4/21 and said: “My vision is to have a community and a Police Department where we could get to know each other, understand our values. We have to look at what’s going on in America, especially from a law enforcement perspective." 
• Between 4/14 and 4/21, three vehicles were stolen; a 2018 Mazda from the 800 block of Forest, a 2007 Lexus from the 1600 block of Chicago and a 2018 Dodge Charger from the Hull Terrace/Barton area. All were taken from the street by unknown means.
• News from the 24^th District: On 4/18, the CPD reported that shots were fired at the Rogers Park Police District station from a passing vehicle, striking the outer wall. No one was hit. 
• Graffiti has appeared on bridges, sidewalks, power boxes and crosswalks in conjunction with NU student protests.
• On 4/15 around 3:30 PM, cops were dispatched to a fast food restaurant in the 1100 block of Howard for a shots fired. They observed multiple bullet holes in the front window of the restaurant; a vehicle in the parking lot was struck as well. There were no injuries reported. It was determined later that the shooting actually occurred at Oakley and Birchwood in Chicago.
• That same evening, a homeowner in the 1100 block of Hull reported that he heard his rear window shatter mid-afternoon where he observed a spent round on the window ledge.
• There were six reports of Toyota Prius catalytic converter thefts this week during the late night/early morning hours. Three occurred in south Evanston between 4/12 and 4/16 in the 1500 block of South, the 300 block of Darrow and the 1300 block of Mulford. On 4/18, thieves struck in the 2500 block of Prairie and the 2100 block of Central. The value of precious metals, as friend of the city Mr. Cherry reported, continues to explode.
• Around 10 PM on 4/14, the EPD received calls of a hit and run traffic accident involving shots fired in the 1900 block of Main (Skokie). The offending vehicle, a victim of a shooting at Main and McCormick, was rushing to St. Francis Hospital. The victim reported traveling northbound on McCormick when a black sedan with tinted windows pulled alongside and opened fire. Skokie Police responded for the investigation. 
• Just two package thefts during the period, both on Church; one on 4/13 from a residence in the 1900 block and the other on 4/14 from the common area of a building in the 1100 block.
• Community Strategies (PST – the Problem Solving Team) continued patrolling hotspots and actively monitoring locations throughout the city over the course of the week. Members also attended an NU journalism class, the Problem Properties Task Force, Citizen Police Academy, 3^rd and 5^th Ward meetings.

The Week Ahead

• We say a fond farewell and happy trails to Officer Patrick Wozniak, who retires on 4/23 after 21 years of service to the EPD.
• Community Strategies will attend a recruitment event at the Levy Center on 4/24 and the Hovland Court Neighborhood meeting in Perry Park on 4/25.
• The Armored Car is back in service, headed to Jackson and Foster.
• Get those Radio Flyers, sun hats and reusable shopping bags ready – the Farmers Market opens for 2021 in its usual location on 5/1.

Inquiring Minds: A Primer on Indecent Exposure

This has probably happened to many females.

When I was in college for a Boston field study program, my roommates and I had an unwelcome visitor peering into the windows of our basement apartment. That, of course, is not all that he did. He also, resourcefully, left messages for us by sticking notes to our windows with chewing gum. Emboldened after numerous visits (always after dark), we eventually chased him through a series of alleys. He had a head start and fortunately for us, escaped.

First of all, harassment is a criminal act that includes public indecency in most states. If someone is flashing their genitalia or masturbating in public, you need to take steps to stay safe and assist the cops in bringing the perp to justice. According to one article I found, one-third of sex crimes reported to the police involve reports of exhibitionism.

Here’s how you can make better decisions in a similar situation:

1. Stay calm and get yourself to safety. While your instinct may be to confront the perpetrator like we did, move away from the person and let pros handle the situation.
2. Call the police. This is a criminal act and you are a victim. It’s also true that exhibitionists sometimes escalate their behavior to sexual assault. You’re performing a public service by reporting this crime - plus doing so may give you a sense of empowerment. 

• In the moment: Pull out your mobile phone and call 911 if you feel threatened or unsafe. 
• After the fact: You can still report the criminal behavior. Call the EPD’s non-emergency number (847) 866-5000.

3. Write down everything you remember from the incident, including anything the perpetrator said or did, where the harassment occurred, whether other people witnessed the conduct and anything else that may be helpful in identifying the perpetrator.

The consequences of a conviction: Offenders are usually charged with a misdemeanor for a first offense.  But if the perp is a repeat offender, he (or she) may be facing felony charges or a longer jail sentence.

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.