Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

Every week, ordinary citizen and Freelance Reporter Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings and takes notes on the various agenda topics. Below is her report for the week.

In the Squad Room - Looking at Street Gangs

Ongoing investigation of the South Evanston robberies continued to be a topic of discussion in this week’s meeting, along with details on the shooting of an 18-year old in the 500 block of Howard Street on Saturday, February 8.  According to EPD investigations, the shooting was likely the result of gang violence. Details about the investigation were shared in the meeting.  Verbal threats and recent volleys of gang graffiti appear to be escalating into physical confrontations. They are challenging Evanston gang members, with specific focus towards Hispanic gangs. EPD’s TAC (Tactical Anti-Crime Unit) continues to deploy additional resources in known and suspected hotspots to reduce the possibility of violence occurring in these areas.  On a separate topic of interest  for police, Crime Analyst Marianne Ring alerted the group to a trend for some teenagers called “Lean”,  “Purple Drink” or “Drank” - it’s a mix of codeine cough medicine and lemon soda or grape juice. This is not limited to these flavors but can be mixed with any type juice.  (This is yet another reminder for citizens to prevent access and secure controlled substances with any risk of abuse potential.)

Deployment Meeting – 12 February 2014

Prior to This Week

• A routine traffic stop in the 1200 block of Hartrey resulted in the apprehension of two individuals with outstanding arrest warrants and the recovery of a 12-gauge pump shotgun.  
• A mid-morning armed robbery took place in the 200 block of Chicago Avenue.  Two offenders displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. No proceeds were taken.
• Since the last deployment period, there were two incidents of burglaries from motor vehicles, three residential burglaries and two garage burglaries. A commercial burglary in the 2100 block of Crawford may be related to other recent commercial break-ins.
• A 17-year old was assaulted by a group of other teens and suffered a dislocated shoulder in the 800 block of Dodge Ave.  The incident is thought to be possibly gang-related. 
• A suspicious person, possibly posing as a utility worker, has been reported in South Evanston.  This individual is a middle-aged white male, carrying a clipboard and wearing a nametag.  He has been seen peering under vehicles and watching security cameras.
• Critical Reach: The EPD was alerted to the Skokie arrests of four individuals suspected in the recent thefts from jewelry stores in the area. 

Looking Ahead

• The Snow Command (and the rest of us) catch a break as more temperate weather is expected for the coming week.
• The TAC unit will continue to deploy resources, including the EPD’s armored car, in identifying and arresting the South Evanston robbers.
• Resources will be also be present near the Chicago/Evanston border due to last Saturday's shooting.

Inquiring Minds

Here’s the week’s question – and Commander Parrott’s response. 

I’ve heard that it is now illegal to enter an intersection to make a left-hand turn and that drivers have actually been given tickets for doing it.  This is a change from the Rules of the Road that I learned.  What’s the story? 

COMMANDER PARROTT: First of all, it isn’t true but this is where a lot of accidents occur. 

Drivers making a left hand turn can enter the intersection as long as they are not blocking or impeding traffic. Drivers already in the intersection on a yellow and making a left hand turn when the light turns red are not in violation as long as they are yielding to oncoming traffic, but entering the intersection and making a left hand turn on a red light is illegal.  

If your vehicle enters the intersection on a green or a yellow light, you are not in violation as long as when making a left turn or proceeding, you must yield to oncoming traffic.  Vehicles entering into an intersection after receiving a green light may proceed after all traffic has cleared that intersection prior to that green light. A green light does not give a driver the right to slam into your car if you were lawfully in the intersection first. That violation is failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

LH: But what about drivers who don’t enter the intersection on even a yellow and just wait for traffic to clear?   CP: It may irritate other drivers and slow the flow of traffic, but it isn’t illegal to be cautious in that situation.

What would you like to know about what the Evanston Police Department is doing to fight crime? Let us know if you have specific questions or 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’d like to receive Evanston’s Daily Crime Report by email, you can subscribe here or view the Monthly Crime Statistics that are reported on a yearly basis to the FBI by clicking here.

The next 12-week Citizen Police Academy will be starting Wednesday, March 5. If you’d like to learn more about the Evanston Police Department, take an active role in Community Oriented Policing and join the ranks of 800 graduates since 1995, please visit www.cityofevanston.org/cpa .   There is no cost to anyone who lives or works in Evanston.