LAKEVIEW — A prominent North Side crime blog is turning to its readers to raise money to honor fallen police officers through a GoFundMe campaign.
Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown has raised a little more than $850 in three weeks with the goal of raising $2,500. The money will go toward the K-9s for Cops campaign, which in turn benefits the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the no-kill animal shelter, PAWS Chicago.
"There aren't many ways for our neighbors to say 'thank you' to the officers who serve us," said Scott Williams, one of the blog's previously anonymous editors. "Our editors thought that sponsoring a K-9 statue is a perfect way for the neighborhood to come together in a positive way."
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and PAWS Chicago in January launched a new public art installation and fundraising campaign: K-9s for Cops. [DNAinfo/Ed Komenda]
Up to 300 German Shepherd statues are expected to line Michigan Avenue this summer as part of the public art installation and fundraising campaign, which launched in January.
Similar to the Horses of Honor program, individual artists will design and paint the 54-inch statues, which businesses in Chicago can buy and commission an artist to paint for $2,000.
The campaign memorializes Chicago's fallen officers while supporting the families of officers killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
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A portion of all proceeds will support PAWS Chicago’s effort to offer free spay/neuter services and medical care for pets of residents in poor communities.
Now in its fourth year, Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown has captivated Lakeview neighbors with its minutely detailed reports of burglaries, robberies and other crime in Lakeview's entertainment districts and adjacent neighborhoods.
Since its start, CWB has scathingly tracked police manpower for the Town Hall District, periods when no officers are available for emergency calls and North Side crime statistics.
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Its sources are often anonymously quoted police officers or unconfirmed police scanner reports. The blog also tracks criminal court cases stemming from Lakeview crimes.
After launching its GoFundMe campaign, the blog profiled several Town Hall officers who died in the line of duty.
As some might be dubious about donating to a faceless blog, CWB has certified its GoFundMe campaign to ensure all funds go directly to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, once GoFundMe deducts its processing fees.
"Being a 'certified charity' campaign is an essential part of CWB's involvement [because] there's no middleman," Williams said in an email. "No payout to an individual who's promising to donate the money. It's seamless and totally transparent."
It's not the first time the blog has donated money to the foundation, Williams said. When television news stations pay licensing fees to use the blog's photos or videos, CWB donates the payments to the police foundation, he said.
Last year, donations from CWB totaled $600, Williams said.
