New Safety Initiative Targets Troubled Areas

Below is an excerpt from Alderman Smith’s e-newsletter on a new and innovative safety initiative in the 48th Ward.  Follow this link to receive the Alderman’s newsletter directly.

Alderman Smith is using discretionary funds to target troubled areas in the 48th Ward. She has contracted off-duty police to concentrate on three chronic problem locations: the intersection of Winthrop and Winona, Thorndale around the Red Line station and Sheridan Road from Lawrence to Margate Terrace.

The off-duty officers are working in conjunction with the local police district and Board of Education security and focusing their efforts at the dismissal times of schools located in these areas. They are monitoring the flow of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, bringing police attention to any problems or potential problems during these periods and providing suggestions on how to better enhance the safety of these areas.

The goal of this project is to bring additional resources to areas where public safety problems have persisted despite the application of normally successful strategies. It is not designed to minimize or replace the hard work of the Chicago Police and Chicago Public Schools security, or the efforts of the community, but rather to supplement those efforts. Initial reports from the officers and nearby school principals are encouraging. They believe the presence of the off-duty officers has greatly reduced the unsavory elements that typically inhabit these areas after school.

To continue this success, the officers need information from the community. You can help by calling 911 to report illegal and suspicious activity and by attending the local CAPS meetings to provide feedback and exchange information with your neighbors and the police. When calling 911, please remember that information given to the police is kept confidential, and you can choose to remain anonymous.