ALBANY PARK — Chicago Police Commander Melissa Staples of the 17th District reported a decrease in crime at the October CAPS meeting for Beat 1712, but one month later, the news was less positive.
"Things seem to be heating up on Lawndale again," said one resident. "It's a lot more gunfire."
Nearly 20 neighbors attended Wednesday night's Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meeting held at Mayfair Community Church, where they expressed concern about shootings, blatant drug dealing and gang graffiti.
Beat facilitator Angela Morgan referenced a Nov. 20 incident on North St. Louis Avenue in which a car's windows were shot out, thought to be related to a fatal shooting that same evening in the 3400 block of West Sunnyside Avenue (the beat adjacent to 1712).
"These are not teenagers," said Morgan. "These are grown men and they're aiming to kill."
"People are concerned that innocent people are being targeted, and that wasn't the case," said CAPS Sgt. Kristin Munin. "The person who was killed was a known gang member."
Neighbors are actively working with police to identify potential hot spots, including gang tagging at Eugene Field Park. Munin said that 10 contact cards were collected in that area over the past month, a tool police use to gather information on suspicious individuals.
A new community group, Albany Park Neighbors, has formed to address challenges and help provide solutions. Their next meeting is set for Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at New Life Community Church.
A handout distributed at Wednesday's meeting showed 33 arrests on Beat 1712 between Oct. 24 and Nov. 28. Theft topped the list of most common crimes, with 23 incidents.
Beat 1712's boundaries range from Bryn Mawr to Lawrence avenues and Cicero Avenue to the River. The next CAPS meeting is scheduled for Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Mayfair Church, 5020 N. Pulaski Road.
