Hi Craig-
My name is Chris Miller and I'm relatively new to the neighborhood, I live on the 1300 block of Estes. I was at the CeaseFire event Wednesday evening. Your other reporter Julie was there and she took notes. One interesting thing, the CeaseFire people said that the shooting wasn't gang related but the cops tonight said it was. 49th ward candidate Chris Adams was at both the CeaseFire event and the CAPS meeting (it's his beat). No other candidate was in attendance.
Anyway, here are my notes from the CAPS beat 2423 meeting: (Boundaries are the North side of Lunt to the South side of Jarvis, the Lake to the East side of Clark.)
Burglaries are an issue in 2423. The officers said that they were up citywide and they have asked for someone to come up here are give a workshop on burglary prevention.
Auto thefts are up because people have been warming their cars in the morning unlocked and unattended.
The shooting this past Saturday in the alley behind 7100 N. Ashland (Ashland and Estes) was gang related. Both the shooter and the victim are residents of the neighborhood. They have had a long-standing beef and have been involved in another shooting in the past 6 months. The victim was shot at 7100 N. Ashland and tried to drive himself to the hospital but was not able to get past Birchwood.
The police said the shooting in the gangway of a building on 1300 W. Estes was self inflicted. The "victim" was putting the gun in his belt when it went off. The "shooters" seen running west on Estes were actually his buddies who left him after the gun went off.
In response to the shootings the police had an outdoor roll-call last night at Estes and Ashland and a Seatbelt Mission. Several people expressed concern over the upswing in violence in our beat over the last 6 months. The police said they were aware and working on it. They have been focusing on the Estes and Paulina building that appears to be the "Rider Building light" in 2423.
The next meeting is on the 21st of March, 7pm 1400 W. Estes (Trilogy Center)
Thanks,
Chris Miller
2 comments:
The only reason the Greenleaf and Paulina building was cleared up is because the owner had a improvement loan that was going to expire if they didn't use the money. They he had everyone on 30 day leases and what quality people these were. Once again the almighty dollar and no concern for the neighborhood.
A few additional notes from this CAPS meeting:
1. There were no less than 6 beat cops, a sergeant, and 4-6 detectives (or suits) at the meeting. I figure the police had residents outnumbered 2 to 1.
2. Stats were run off but NOTHING was said about shooting on Estes or Ashland until a resident (that would be me) asked. Interesting. Police fully expected it to be an issue and came out in force but waited til the peanut gallery said anything.
3. When one resident observed that she'd heard more gunfire in last 6 months than in last 6 years, one obnoxious detective glared at her and replied "are you sure you aren't hearing fire crackers and cars backfiring." To Mr. Obnoxious Detective I say this: don't make dumbass assumptions about residents. I knew how to load, shoot, fire, and clean a gun by the time I was 12. I am not afraid of guns. I am concerned about idiots with guns who shoot them off in broad daylight or shoot themselves. Oh, and I carry a FOID in my wallet. Jerk.
4. Mr. Dimple Beat Cop is a doll in more ways than one and he should get to run the meeting without the suits. He clearly cares about residents and is happy to communicate what he knows to them. He's also respectful of all residents. We're fortunate to have him. He'll be added to my holiday cookie list. Lumps of coal to the condescending suits.
Finally, why isn't our Alderman at these meetings, keeping the police department respectful and addressing neighborhood concerns? CAPS should not be the burden of just the police but all ward leadership. There are issues here, such as the idiots determined to kill each other, over which the police have little power. The Alderman's office should be involved, to bring in appropriate organizations, to help these young people address their problems BEFORE one of them is killed and the other in jail. Why isn't the Alderman HELPING the police? Don't bother answering that question. it was rhetorical.
Post a Comment