Saturday, September 21, 2024 | View in browser
Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights
In this post, a community member who sits in on the Evanston Police
Department’s weekly Deployment Meeting, shares notes on the topics discussed and writes about public safety matters of interest to people who work or live in Evanston.
Full Transparency
 Catalytic Converter thefts persist in Beat 72, south Evanston.
It is sometimes the case that while a recap of the prior week’s events prepared by the Intelligence Unit always happens regardless of natural disasters, holidays, training sessions, and non-threatening injuries, the Deployment Meeting does not. Such was the case this week, as two key members of Intel spent the better part of the week mastering a new software platform for the public sector.
Therefore, this week’s INSIDER is 100% compiled from the very fine materials they prepared for this week, even though there wasn’t a meeting.
If the Crime Analyst was speaking to us, she’d say that the prior week was characterized by teen girl disturbances, a continuation of catalytic converter thefts on the south side, and random incidents like this one:
Officers responded to South Boulevard Beach on 9/16 to meet with a victim who advised that while she was enjoying the seasonally tepid waters of Lake Michigan, she observed a stranger reach into her cooler to take a cold beverage. When she confronted him, he pulled down his pants and grabbed his genitals, screaming, “Call the Police!”. An unfortunate bystander witnessed the show and is willing to sign a formal complaint.
Weekly Crime Map
 Click to enlarge
Deployment Presentation – September 19, 2024
Scam Alert
EPD has received reports from residents about a sextortion-style email scam circulating in the area. These emails use open-source data to make the scam appear credible. If you receive email, do NOT send money! EPD does not believe the scammers are in the area, but if you see suspicious activity, call EPD. For more information, visit this link.
Arson
On Sept. 14, a property manager alerted police and provided video of an offender setting fire to a bench in the 700 block of Clark. Police have identified the man. Charges are pending.
Burglary
Garage Burglary
A 10-speed bicycle was taken from a garage in the 2100 block of Ridge on Sept. 18.
Storage Burglary
An iPhone, clothing, documents, and other personal items were taken from a secured storage space of a building in the 2100 block of Dempster.
Motor Vehicle Burglary
- A garage door opener was taken from an unlocked garage on Sept. 16.
- A City of Evanston iPad was reported missing from a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of Grove on Sept. 3.
Catalytic Converter Theft
All from Beat 72, in south Evanston:
- On Sept. 12, from a 2008 Honda CR-V in the 200 block of Custer.
- Between Sept. 10 and 11, from a 2008 Acura in the 800 block of Reba.
- On Sept. 10, from a 2006 Lexus 400H in the 800 block of Madison.
Criminal Sexual Abuse
Officers were dispatched to Ridge and Leon Place on Sept. 17 for a suspicious person report. The victim told cops that she had been followed from the Davis CTA Station and then assaulted by a man who grabbed and fondled her. Officers conducted a search of the area and located the perp, who was positively identified by the victim. He has been charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Abuse.
Domestic Battery
EPD Communications received a phone call about a domestic situation from a female passenger inside a car. Communications pinged the phone and located the vehicle in the 700 block of Madison.
Officers contacted an individual who was a resident at that location. He said that the female victim was fine, but officers insisted on seeing her to confirm it. At that point, the resident and the offender tried to block the officer’s entry to the residence. Both men were handcuffed and taken into custody. The victim, who was inside the residence, entered the fray and bit one of the officers. Charges against her are pending.
Graffiti
Tagging was observed on Sept. 10 at Lee Street Beach.
Motor Vehicle Theft
There were four this week:On Sept. 13, a man was helping an employee carry items into a Pizza Hut in the 900 block of Howard. When he returned, his 2007 Toyota was gone. Flock cameras revealed a van entering the parking lot and an unknown subject stealing the car.A 2017 Hyundai was stolen from the 200 block of Darrow on Sept. 12. Broken glass was discovered at the scene; Flock cameras captured the vehicle traveling on Skokie Boulevard near Old Glenview Road.A 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe originally reported as a motor vehicle break-in on Sept. 1 was changed on Sept. 16 to theft. The victim reported that a person staying with her took the car.Recovered: The owner of a vehicle stolen from the 700 block of Seward on Sept. 13 located it with a damaged sunroof in Skokie.
Possession of a Controlled Substance/Resisting Arrest
On Sept. 18, EPD officers conducted a street stop on four individuals who were hanging out and smoking weed on the street in the 2100 block of Darrow. The four men, all gang-associated, attempted to elude the police. Various controlled substances (suspected cocaine and MDMA capsules) were seized. Charges are pending.
Pick-Pocket/Theft
A victim was shopping at Whole Foods when an older subject in a motorized scooter distracted her while another subject took her wallet from her purse.About a half-hour later, the subject who stole the wallet was seen on Sam’s Club video attempting to purchase 13 $200 Visa gift cards. The transaction was denied.
Road Rage
On Sept. 16, two females contacted EPD to report a road rage incident. When officers responded to the Food 4 Less pumps, only one caller was present. She said that the other motorist had followed her into the station and threatened to shoot her. Officers at the scene did not detect any damage to her vehicle. A short time later, the other party spoke to the reporting officer on the phone. She reported a crash and advised that she and her lawyer would be in touch the next day.
Robbery
Officers responded to the 600 block of Mulford for a reported robbery on Sept. 15. They located a male victim with obvious injuries, who stated that while smoking and drinking with a friend at the location, he was approached by several individuals, one with a handgun, who attacked him and made off with $350. Video is being reviewed.On Sept. 11, EPD officers were flagged down on Howard by a victim who stated that he was walking in the 400 block of Howard when he was approached by four subjects who displayed a handgun and demanded his property. The victim refused and fled westbound on Howard.
Teen Disturbances
There were multiple disturbances during the Deployment period involving female juveniles at three locations: the 1800 block of Lyons, Haven Middle School, and the 100 block of Foster. In the Lyons incident, parents were able to intervene and stop the fight, but not before several of the girls had minor injuries. Video footage of the incident captured the fight in its entirety. Several females, all juveniles, were charged in the Haven incident where a weapon was involved.
Weapons-Related
Shots Fired
On Sept. 19, callers reported hearing an argument and shots fired in the 2300 block of Foster. Units were dispatched to Mulford and Elmwood for a shot-fired call on Sept. 17. The area was checked with negative results. On Sept. 13, an Evanston Parking Enforcement Officer called in loud reports near Asbury and Brummel. CPD was also alerted. Shell casings were located in the 7300 block of Paulina. EPD received one call of 5-6 shots fired near Ridge and Hull. Police called to the scene were not able to locate evidence.
- On Sept. 1, a juvenile who planned to meet a person near Sheridan and Noyes to buy alcohol was instead met by three teenage robbers, one brandishing a handgun, who made off with his wallet. The meet-up was arranged on Snapchat.
- The same day, police received a 911 call from a female who reported three juveniles attempting to steal bicycles in front of Sky Zone in the 1700 block of Maple. One of the juveniles approached the woman, twisted her hand, and took her cell phone. Security video captured images of all three offenders, who are suspects in the Sheridan and Noyes robbery.
- On Aug. 29, a man called EPD to report that he was robbed near Asbury and Grove on Aug. 28 around 4 p.m. as he finished his day’s work as a school crossing guard. He told police that he observed a Kia sedan drive past him and park on Grove; then three offenders approached on foot. One of the men produced a handgun and struck him in the face, knocking him to the ground, while the other two went through his person, taking his yellow traffic vest, stop sign, iPhone, and wallet containing $110 cash, IDs, and debit cards. Evidence technicians were able to photograph his injuries. Detectives are attempting to access security videos of the incident.
Random Notes:
INSIDER will be on hiatus for a week, returning to your inbox on 10/6.
Inquiring Minds: The Traffic Bureau and an Evanston's Claim to Fame
 The first EPD motorcycle was a 1908 Excelsior-Henderson Auto-Cycle model like this one.
Recently, we received this question from a reader: “Do ‘traffic cops’ exist anymore? Can all officers make traffic stops and issue tickets?”. The answer, from Executive Commander Glew, is yes and yes.
Structure
First of all, EPD’s Traffic Bureau is a component of Field Operations, which also includes Community Outreach and Engagement, the Patrol Bureau, and the Community Policing Unit. (Check out EPD’s Organization Chart.)
Personnel
The Traffic Bureau is staffed by one sergeant and four officers. Any member of the department, Glew said, can issue a traffic citation, but the vast majority are issued by Traffic and Patrol.
Mission
He pointed out that enforcement is just one aspect of what the Bureau does. Hit-and-run accidents are assigned to Traffic for investigation, and they also have a role with MCAT (Major Crash Assistance Team) reconstructing serious or fatal accidents within the NORTAF (North Regional Major Crimes Task Force) communities. They coordinate events with road closures or increased traffic, like the Flying Turkey 5K, Bike the Ridge, and, of course, NU football games.
They Get to Ride Harleys
Traffic cops (or “Motors” in police parlance) undergo rigorous certification and re-certification training and make good use of the EPD’s fleet of Harley-Davidsons. They’re excellent for maneuvering through dense traffic, can go where squad cars can’t, and tend to welcome positive interactions from citizens.
While Detroit was the first to deploy motorcycles (Harley-Davidsons) in 1908, Evanston was the first in Illinois and the first in the U.S. to deploy a belt-driven (Excelsior-Henderson) motorcycle that same year. Both cities were years ahead of other departments. EPD’s last surviving police horse, Baldy, died in 1911.
Another Myth Shattered
Most people reading this post believe that 1.) traffic cops have a monthly ticket quota, 2.) motorists are more likely to be issued a citation toward the end of the month, and 3.) cops are rewarded for meeting or exceeding a specific number of citations.
Commander Glew said that it’s against the law to set quotas and that a traffic officer's intent in issuing citations is to improve traffic safety. “There is no profit motive for the department. Citations generate little in the way of revenue. Most of the fines go to cover court costs or traffic safety school. The county or the state, not EPD, gets the revenue.“
PLEASE SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS. Please continue to send us your inquiries here —we promise to answer any and all in a future issue. Comments and suggestions are appreciated too.
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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