You can download a PDF of minutes from the 4/21/2008 Beat 2431 meeting here. Below is the text version of the minutes.
Rogers Park, 24th Police District, Beat 2431
CAPS Meeting, April 21, 2008
Rogers Park Community Council Office
1530 W. Morse Avenue
Officiates:
Kevin O’Neil, Facilitator
Sergeant Baranowski, Beat Team Leader, Chicago Police Department
Jayne M. Hoffman, notes taker
Meeting notes are paraphrased, quotations are marked accordingly.
I. Welcome and introductions. 7:05pm: Kevin greeted newcomers & outlined how CAPS works along with the geographic boundaries of Beat 2431. Introductions went around the room. About 35 citizens and police are in attendance.
II. Police crime report. Sgt. Zacagnino read off current crime report stats: From March 1 to 31. Click here for details on the Top 10 crimes and number of arrests.
III. Identify new problem areas.
6923 N. Wayne: Citizen reporting that the building is infested with roaches. Anthony Pehar is the owner and Anne Sullivan from Alderman Moore’s office will schedule a meeting.
NW corner Pratt and Wayne and 6818 N. Wayne: Suspicious activities at both addresses. Possibilities of prostitution and drug dealing, respectively. Ofr. Acquilly: We have never had a call at Pratt and Wayne, and received only one call at another time at 6818 for a domestic disturbance. It was suggested that the neighbors need to start calling 911 and keep a log book of activity.
6962 N. Ashland, Unit 2W: Constant foot traffic 24 hours from the female occupied unit. People acting suspiciously; buzzer for entry going on all night which can be heard throughout the building. Ofr. Cohen: Have neighbors complained to the landlord? Citizen: Yes. Cohen: When proof of illegal activity is lacking, the greatest defense is if the landlord enforces municipal codes, such as the noise ordinance. Then the tenant can be found under a breach of lease and subsequently evicted.
6928 N. Wayne: Motor vehicle with a handicap sticker vandalized. Police report filed. Nothing was stolen. Citizen is apprehensive about using his parking spot because he risks being mugged due to inadequate lighting. Kevin: Remember to keep all valuables out of plain view in parked cars.
1540 W. Pratt: Loiterers at Pratt & Bosworth. Ofr. Acquilly: that is a hot spot, special attention for everybody. You cannot expect small kids to stay inside on a nice day. Citizen commends the CPD for arriving when called, but requested that the cruiser would stick around a little longer to ward off the loiterers. Ofr. Cohen: We can notify CHA to ensure that families with kids residing in the housing nearby are in compliance. Sgt. Baranowski: We will try to maintain a high presence with supplemental forces. Citizen 2: In defense of the youths who are loitering: there is not a place where kids can just hang out. Alderman Pat O’Connor has scheduled a meeting with CHA and Police on the CHA building at Pratt and Bosworth.
Oasis Bar, 6809 N. Sheridan: Has the only late night, 4 am license in Rogers Park. An employee outlined their safety plan as mandated by the City. Safety plan includes: Installation of surveillance cameras on outside of building, and inside which was optional; signs posted informing the public with location of every camera; employees trained i.e.: security guards, bartenders, etc.; fire evacuation plan implemented and sent to the Dept. of Business Affairs for approval. In addition, they are placing an ashtray outside for smokers to help keep the sidewalks clean. Security checks IDs upon patron entry. Bartenders do this when security is not at the door. They also use an ID check kit for fake IDs.
Morse “L” Liquors (Red Line at Morse): Proprietor is present. He stopped selling small packaged (under $3) liquors and malt liquors after being asked even though no he has not incurred any complaints.
IV. Progress on current issues
Soo Liquors, 1420 W. Morse Ave: Proprietor not present during initial discussion. René Camargo: of DevCorp North. As of April 7th, still selling small packaged liquors that were supposed to removed from the shelves immediately after the contract was signed with the Alderman. Alderman’s office issuing a complaint form to seek retraction of Soo’s license. The complaint form, which must be filled out by citizens, is the first step in the process. Alicia from Alderman Moore’s office should have a hearing date to announce at the next meeting. Citizens at meeting signed the complaint forms.
Proprietor of Soo Liquors arrived late to the meeting and after discussion finished (approx. 7:25pm) defending that the reason why they continued selling small bottles was due to overstock. They have since removed all small bottles, and are not selling to minors. Kevin informed him of distribution of complaint forms distributed by the Alderman’s office to file action against Soo Liquors for failure to comply with the contract.
Los Portales Restaurant, 1418 W. Morse Ave: Proprietor Juan Gonzales present. Sgt. Baranowski: the foot patrols have been targeting that block of Morse Avenue consistently. Ofr. Acquilly: arrests for public intoxication are being made and so we are building a record of who they are. Ofr. Zacagnino: A problem we are seeing is a lack of consistency with allowing loiterers in the stores. If you kick them out, do not let them return, ever. No Loitering signs are posted on the premises.
V. Announcements
• National Night Out 2008 is on Tuesday, August 5th. Note: Date correction. Anyone interested in helping out with preparations can email Jayne.
• CAPS Appreciation Day: Ceremony on Tuesday, April 29th at Misercordia. Our own Sgt. Baranowski will be awarded. Contact District 24 Community Relations for more information.
• Alderman’s City Clean Up, Saturday, May 17th. Contact the Alderman’s office for more information.
• The next beat meeting will be Monday, May 19, 2008.
Meeting adjourned by Kevin at 8:02 P.M.
