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New Commanders Named for Albany Park, Foster Police Districts

By Patty Wetli | December 18, 2012 8:00am
 James Jones (center) was named commander of the Foster (20th) District.
James Jones (center) was named commander of the Foster (20th) District.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

CHICAGO — Police Supt. Garry McCarthy put two more pieces of his commander puzzle in place Monday, naming leaders of the Albany Park (17th) and Foster (20th) Districts.

Lt. Jose Ramirez, formerly assigned to the organized crime division, was promoted to commander of Albany Park, succeeding Cmdr. Melissa Staples, who takes over the newly consolidated Near West Side 12th District.

The Albany Park District's headquarters are at 4650 N. Pulaski Road, and its borders are Belmont Avenue to the south, Devon Avenue to the north, the Chicago River to the east and Cicero Avenue to the west.

Ramirez will be expected to focus on controlling gang violence, particularly in the Albany Park neighborhood. Last month, a 22-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting and in early December, a 14-year-old survived a bullet wound in the shoulder.

Also on the North Side, Capt. James Jones, formerly executive officer of the Calumet (5th) District, was promoted to commander of the Foster (20th) District, a position previously held by Lucy Moy-Bartosik, who was appointed executive officer overseeing the transformation of the department's community policing strategy.

Jones is a 26-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Earlier this month, McCarthy lauded Jones for "driving down shooting incidents and murders."

The Foster District is headquartered at 5400 N. Lincoln Ave., and its borders are Lawrence Avenue to the south, the Chicago River to the west, Lake Michigan to the east, and Peterson/Elmdale/Thorndale avenues to the north.

The promotions were announced Monday along with that of a third new commander, 40 new sergeants and the graduation of 41 police recruits.