LINCOLN SQUARE — Statistically, crime in the Foster Police District is "by far" the lowest in all of Chicago, but a shooting on Lawrence Avenue, an armed robbery on Damen and multiple reports of shots fired over the weekend have been a "shock to the system," police told worried residents Wednesday night.
Cmdr. Sean Loughran, named head of the district just five weeks ago, met with neighbors for two hours to address a recent spate of violence that has shaken the normally quiet community.
"I can not stress enough that the 20th District is absolutely last in any reported crime in the city. But we can have all kinds of bar charts and numbers and facts and figures ... that's not going to make you feel any safer," Loughran said.
"What you want is some accountability, you want to know what's going on," Loughran said.
More than 100 residents turned out to meet with the commander, who was joined by the district's CAPS officers, beat cops, Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th) and Assistant State's Attorney Joy Repella.
Loughran provided updates on the most high-profile crimes:
• The Jan. 6 shooting, which started on Lawrence Avenue and spilled over onto Bell and Argyle, was sparked by a "personal beef" between two gang members who live in the district but not the neighborhood. (The Foster District is bounded by Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, Lawrence Avenue and Peterson Avenue.)
The victim has since stopped cooperating with police, making charges difficult. But information provided about the gunman, matched with an arrest made in another district, indicates that the shooter is now in custody for other crimes, Loughran said.
• Detectives are reviewing multiple videos of the Jan. 20 armed robbery of Windy City Liquors, 4959 N. Damen Ave. "It's just a matter of time before we get these guys," Loughran said of the three masked robbers who made off with $600.
• A dozen neighbors called in reports of shots fired at Winnemac Park, 5101 N. Leavitt St., just after midnight Sunday. Police combed the area twice — immediately after the calls and again at 8 a.m. — and no shell casings or other damage were found after "extensive searches," Loughran said.
"We don't have a victim, I don't have any evidence," he said.
The 47th Ward office did confirm that shell casings were found at Cullom and Claremont, in the Belmont District, where shots were reported fired at nearly the same time as at Winnemac Park.
Loughran then outlined his response to the criminal activity, saying he's beefed up patrols, including walking beats himself, has held several outdoor roll calls, and that officers are making more "Terry stops" (stops and searches based on "reasonable suspicion").
Neighbors called for more lighting around Winnemac Park as well as a park patrol car. O'Connor said he would need to find a compromise between lighting the park for safety and lighting it so well that no one would obey the 11 p.m. closing.
Residents also questioned whether the district's low crime rate meant it was short on police resources, leaving it vulnerable to criminals.
"We have a full complement of personnel," Loughran said, but added "there's no denying" that West and South Side districts "draw a great deal of resources."
"I would love to have a police officer on every corner," the commander said. "We have to work smart."
Loughran touched on ways in which the community can help:
• If calls to 911 don't result in the desired response, call back and ask for a supervisor. "When you're dialing 911, you need help, it's not the time you need flak," Loughran said.
Operators, who aren't members of the police department, prioritize calls for dispatch, and low-priority calls are typically held for the beat cop, he explained.
In some instances, contacting the district directly might make more sense than 911, Loughran said.
He offered up the example of a chronic problem, such as a neighborhood drug dealer. Call the Foster District and ask for the tactical team, which could arrange an undercover buy, rather than a beat cop driving up with sirens blaring.
Despite it's relative safety, Loughran conceded that the district wasn't immune to the violence that's plagued the entire city.
Criminals are mobile and the fracturing of gangs — on a previous assignment, he tallied 58 different gang factions — has made police work more complex than ever, he said.
"Years ago, it used to be very clear — this gang against that gang ... fighting over dope," Loughran said.
"Literally, now we are combating social media arguments," he said. "We are having a helluva time trying to get ahold of that."
