Friday, August 6, 2021 |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

Every week, a civilian attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings, takes notes on the topics discussed and writes about it and other public safety matters of interest to people who work and live in Evanston.

Good times in Penny Park on National Night Out

After a brief interlude, catalytic converter thieves are back at it, last week targeting five Honda CR-Vs, all in Beat 75, the northwest corner of Evanston. While most of these probably happened overnight, thefts can occur in broad daylight since an experienced thief can remove a cat in two minutes or less. The only tools required are a wrench for some vehicle models or a reciprocating saw for everything else.

Since cats are usually stolen from vehicles (typically high off the ground SUVs and trucks) parked in driveways, parking lots or on the street, the best defense is parking inside your garage if you have one, or considering anti-theft devices like cages and clamps that slow down the thieves. Interesting factoid: Toyota Prius vehicles are favored by thieves since hybrids produce less exhaust so their cats retain more precious metals.

Crime Analyst Ring and Intelligence Officer Giese noted a sparse crime map (see below) with the aforementioned catalytic converter thefts, one armed robbery, two package thefts, two bike thefts, a motor vehicle burglary, a residential burglary and a shots fired call. Details follow.

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Deployment Meeting – August 4, 2021

• Public indecency arrest: On 8/3, Trevaughn Adams was arrested and subsequently charged with felony public indecency following an investigation by detectives for a previously reported incident that had occurred along the 900 block of Hinman Ave. 
• Catalytic converter thefts: According to Crime Analyst Ring, nearly every cat theft over the past thirty days occurred in Beat 75. Between 7/23 and 8/2, Honda CR-Vs in the 2100 block of Colfax, the 2300 block of Cowper, the 2500 block of Lawndale, the 2500 block of Marcy and the 2300 block of Park were struck. 
• Shots fired: Around 2 AM on 8/1, the EPD received reports of shots fired in the 700 block of Howard. Officers were able to recover one shell casing and one live round at the scene.  
• Motor vehicle burglary: On 7/31, the owner of a 2015 Dodge reported a vehicle burglary in a parking lot in the 600 block of Dempster. The vehicle was not locked; the owner noted that nothing was missing.
• Robberies: 
  • On 7/29 around 8:30 AM, a cab driver was robbed at knifepoint of cash by an offender picked up in the 300 block of Custer and dropped off in the area of Sherman and Mulford. 
  • An individual attempted to rob a victim of cash at a convenience store in the 800 block of Dodge on 7/30 around 6:30 PM.
• Package thefts (2) were reported in the 600 and 900 blocks of Sherman on 7/29.
• Bicycle thefts of a Schwinn locked to a bike rack in the 1700 block of Orrington on 7/29 and a Granite Peak locked to a bike rack in the 1800 block of Main on 7/28 were reported. Between 7/28 and 7/29, a bike in a secured common area of a building in the 500 block of Lee was also reported missing.
• Officers from Community Strategies continued to address and resolve quality-of-life issues. In the last week, members attended Problem Properties Task Force, Homelessness Task Force, and 4^th Ward meetings. They participated in the well-received National Night Out event at Penny Park (pictured above) and monitored the downtown area and lakefront.

The Week Ahead

• Planning has begun as Central Street bridge construction continues and NU Football season approaches. The first home game is scheduled for Friday, 9/3 at 8 PM when the Wildcats take the field against Michigan State.

Traffic News – August

Scott Sophier

Sergeant, Traffic Management Bureau

For this edition of Traffic News, let’s talk about (before summer wanes) a seasonal tool of law enforcement and community engagement - police motorcycles.

The Evanston Police Department has proudly served on motorcycles for over 100 years! In fact, our Traffic Unit was featured as a winning city in the National Safety Council’s 1933 traffic safety contest.

EPD motors (that’s police jargon for motorcycles) are used for a variety of purposes, including routine traffic enforcement and special events. Our motors are routinely deployed to hotspots and traffic complaint locations city-wide where officers use laser speed guns (called lidar) to accurately measure speed from long distances and then stop violators. Our most notable special event is the July 4^th parade. We’re honored to lead this widely attended city event every year, rain, or shine (Covid-19 notwithstanding). Other events include Northwestern football games, the NU homecoming parade, charity rides for pediatric cancer, breast cancer, and memorial rides for fallen police officers sometimes outside our borders.

Riding a police motorcycle is a fun experience, but the privilege doesn’t come without significant training. Each officer must attend a two-week school led by Harley-Davidson police motorcycle instructors. Then, they’re required to recertify annually to maintain their skills.

Right now, we have six Harley-Davidson Road Kings, and a BMW RTP1250. No one likes getting a ticket (whether an officer is in a car, on a  motorcycle or a bike), but motors facilitate more positive interactions with the public. Children love seeing the motors and taking pictures with the officers, and that always makes our day. We’re often told that officers are much more approachable on foot, on bicycles, and on motorcycles, rather than inside those big Ford Interceptor SUVs.

We’re glad to have those interactions, and we know how important those moments are to building bridges between the police department and the community. Be sure to say hello when you see us out and about this summer, and as always, drive safely.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds you to be alert, share the road, stay visible to other motorists, wear a helmet and ride sober. Motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists died.

Have a question or comment? Email Commander Garner and remember to put In The Squad Room in the subject line.

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.