You can download a PDF of minutes from the 3/17/2008 Beat 2431 meeting here . Below is the text version of the minutes.
Rogers Park, 24th Police District, Beat 2431
CAPS Meeting, March 17, 2008
Rogers Park Community Council Office
1530 W. Morse Avenue
Officiates:
Jayne M. Hoffman, Facilitator and notes taker
Sergeant Koconis filling in for Sergeant Baranowski, Beat Team Leader, Chicago Police Department
Meeting notes are paraphrased, quotations are marked accordingly.
I. Welcome and introductions. Jayne introduced herself and introductions went around the room. Sgt. Koconis announced that the new 24th District Commander Steve Caluris has begun duties. CAPS Beat 2431 congratulates Deputy Chief Bruce Rottner, former 24th District Commander, on his new post as Area 3 Deputy Chief.
II. Police crime report. Sgt. Koconis presented current crime report stats, including the Top 10 crimes in the beat in February. (View a pdf of the report here.) The top three crimes were Simple Battery (6), Simple Assault (4) and Harassment by Telephone (4).
III. Identify new problem areas.
Citizen: Student at Sullivan High School found gym locker broken into with a ball-peen hammer. Combination lock busted off but nothing was stolen. Nothing the police can do directly unless they were called, but it provided good discussion on events at Sullivan High School.
Citizen: Junk trucks parked along Morse Ave. take up parking spaces for people who work at businesses on Morse Ave. Sgt. Koconis deferred to Officer Fitzgerald to investigate the municipal code on Morse Ave and if it allows junk trucks to park east of Clark Street.
Proprietor of Los Portales restaurant at 1418 W. Morse Ave. is in attendance. Juan Gonzales is having problems with loiterers hanging out at the restaurant making drug deals and do not purchase anything. He said they sneak in to evade police patrols. He has called 911 several times. Community Policing Office Steve Cohen commended Mr. Gonzales for having called 911 and for communicating constantly with Rene Camargo of DevCorp North. Sgt. Koconis inquired if he had signed any complaints. Mr. Gonzales responded that by the time the police arrive, the thugs have left. Officer Aquilles briefly explained that when one signs a complaint they need to appear in court to testify against the perpetrator to send the message that the community is serious. Jayne asked to talk with Mr. Gonzales after the meeting to ensure that he knows what is expected of him when he signs a complaint, and asked if he would like to come to the next meeting. Mr. Gonzales agreed.
IV. Other stuff.
Proprietor of Soo Liquors in attendance: Sgt. Cohen inquired about selling certain items. Owner stated to have stopped selling small bottles and certain types of smoking devices and has the new signage project underway. Aquilles and Koconis reprimanded him for the years of allowing thugs to hang out inside and in front of the store harassing passersby. The owners agreed that they are cleaning up and taking action. The officers asked the owner of Soo Liquors if he was calling 911 and willing to sign complaints. The owner stated that he will be doing that. Jayne asked if he planned to attend the next meeting on April 21st. The owner stated that he would.
Koconis and Cohen analyzed that the stream of events taking place on the 1410 – 1422 block area may require some special attention as the weather warms. Sgt. Koconis will seek authorization of a beat officer to walk that block area specifically.
Jayne asked Cohen to go over any old stuff from February:
Cohen outlined a main goal for 2008 was continuing to address the homeless who congregate in Loyola Park during the warmer months. Jayne asked when the bicycle patrol, which has been effective at addressing issues in Loyola Park, will begin. Cohen: Sometime in the middle of May.
V. Announcements
Cohen: New 24th District Commander Steve Caluris will attend every CAPS meeting within the next couple of months.
Jayne: National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 8, 2008. Anyone interested in helping out with preparations can contact Jayne by email.
The next beat meeting will be Monday, April 21, 2007.
Meeting adjourned by Sgt. Koconis at 7:44 P.M.
