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Lakeview Isn't Getting More Police Despite 'Rough' Summer For Crime: Tunney

By Ariel Cheung | September 2, 2015 8:37am
 Ald. Tom Tunney.
Ald. Tom Tunney.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

LAKEVIEW — Declaring safety his "no. 1 priority," Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is moving forward with plans to increase security — whether or not Chicago Police can help.

"Trust me, we're not hiring a whole bunch of cops," Tunney said, referencing the city's budget woes. "It's going to be a tough time, and I want to make sure we keep this neighborhood safe. We're all in this together."

Tunney acknolwedged the crime-filled summer has been "rough" during a Tuesday meeting of East Lake View Neighbors. But, he added, it's time to accept Lakeview won't be getting more police officers and find alternative solutions.

"It has to be about deployment. It's about smarter policing. We have to create public partnerships for private security as well," Tunney said.

Ariel Cheung says businesses could use private security to help:

Lakeview's four chambers of commerce, equipped with Special Service Area money, can help fill that gap, the alderman said. He pointed to Northalsted Business Alliance's summer security as an effective way to bolster public safety.

"I think we're at a juncture here where we've got to continue to increase security, and I'm working hard with the SSAs and prioritizing safety as an important asset for any SSA," Tunney said.

Northalsted hired a dozen security officers for several summers to patrol Halsted Street on weekends, with 20 guards on site during the Pride Parade. Parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer also hired 90 off-duty officers for the day.

Earlier this month, Northalsted reviewed its hiring process after allegations surfaced that one of its guards stole money while posing as a police officer in 1999, as reported by the Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown blog, an anonymously-run website that tirelessly tracks neighborhood crime.

Police issued two alerts Tuesday warning of multiple robberies and burglaries over the weekend, a trend that began in July.

The crime spike is something neighbors have been battling for months. In June, Tunney said he requested an increase in police manpower for the Town Hall District following a robbery-turned-homicide.

While Tunney announced July 28 that Lakeview was receiving "increased resources," he declined to explain what that entailed, and police didn't elaborate, either.

Two men were arrested last week following three muggings near the Belmont 'L' station. Other recent incidents of note include a break-in at the Annoyance Theatre and the arrest of two men who pretended to have a gun and "violently" slammed a woman to the ground.

Town Hall police will meet at their headquarters, 850 W. Addison St., at 7 p.m. Wednesday with residents between Irving Park Road, Belmont Avenue, Southport Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.

September meetings for other blocks in the 19th District can be found here.

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