Top Cop Offers Views on Crime Fighting at Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Event

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy was the guest of honor at the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch's most recent meeting, held Monday evening, July 15 on the basketball courts at Normandy Park.

McCarthy offered a range of observations about crime, both citywide and in Garfield Ridge.

A SWCP camera captures McCarthy's comments.

Among other things, he complained that the news media in the city often treat him unfairly and take his words out of context and/or twist what he says.

Is he right or wrong about that? You decide.

That said, here's something you won't get from the downtown news media: the full 27 minutes of his remarks, unedited and in context.

Coming later: other highlights from the GRNW meeting.

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St. Sym's Football Meeting Set for July 17

Our friends at St. Symphorosa have asked us to help spread

the word about the coming football season:

"Any boys in second through sixth grade interested in playing football, please attend the meeting this Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sharp Center, 5940 West 62nd Street. This is for any children enrolled in St. Symphorosa School and our religious education program."

Go get 'em, Vikings!

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Chicago Lawn Man Charged With Murder in June 13th Hit-and-Run on 73rd Street

Updated at 6:01 p.m. Monday, July 15 by the Cook County Sheriff's Office:

BEDFORD PARK, IL – An investigation by Bedford Park Police, Cook County Sheriff’s Police, and the South Suburban

Jose Gasco Garcia

Major Crimes Task Force has led to the arrest of a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run that occurred last month, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.

Acting on a tip, investigators identified Jose Gasco Garcia as being involved in a hit-and-run that occurred about 10:15 p.m. June 13 in the 5800 block of 73rd Street in Bedford Park.

Garcia, 28, of Chicago was arrested Saturday at his home in the 6300 block of South Francisco Avenue, by Chicago Police on warrant for attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery.

The victim, a man in his 30s, died Saturday, and Garcia subsequently was charged with first degree murder.

Garcia is scheduled to appear in Bond Court tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Sheriff Dart reminds the public that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.

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Updated at 5:44 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 by the Cook County Sheriff's Office:

The offender is described as a Hispanic man,  5'6,” and 150 pounds with short hair. (sketch below)

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Original post from June 14:

Released a short time ago by the Cook County Sheriff's Office:

BEDFORD PARK, IL -- The Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the Bedford Park Police Department are seeking the public’s help in

2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee (stock photo)

locating an older model, dark gray Jeep Grand Cherokee with front end damage that was involved in a hit-and-run at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday in the 5800 block of west 73^rd Street that has left a man in his 30s

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee (stock photo)

in critical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Bedford Park Police Department at 708-458-3388.





More information from NBC 5 Chicago:

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Our Lady of the Snows Parish Carnival Promising Four Big Days of Family Fun

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the Second Annual Our Lady of the Snows Parish Carnival.

Bring your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, everyone!

A great time for a great parish. More details below...

more below...

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"National Night Out Against Crime" Events Ready to Roll in West Lawn and Clearing

Want to join your neighbors in a public show of strength against crime? Take part in the National Night Out Against Crime, which is set for Tuesday, August 6.

There will be two observances in the Eighth District:

Three clergymen at the 2012 event in Clearing.

** a district-wide one from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at West Lawn Park, and

** one for the Clearing neighborhood at Hale School and Park (with a prayer vigil starting at 6:30 p.m. and a neighborhood motorcade starting at 7:00 p.m.)

The event in Clearing is sponsored by the Clearing Night Force neighborhood watch group. The prayer vigil will take

place at 62nd and Melvina, at a memorial to two local girls killed in a gang-related shooting in 1995.

After the motorcade in Clearing, the CNF will serve refreshments in the Hale Park field house.

Clearing residents unable to participate directly are asked by the CNF to "turn on the porch lights and join their neighbors outside to talk about their block and introduce themselves to a new neighbor."

For more information on the Clearing observance, call (773) 492-0812.

The district-wide observance at West Lawn Park is one of the most popular in the city. Last year, more than 700 men, women and children took part.

The event will start with a short march around the park, 65th

Raffles at the 2012 district-wide event at West Lawn Park

and Keeler, with senior citizens and others with mobility limitations riding in an antique fire truck.

Several elected officials and other community leaders are expected to be on hand to rally the crowd against crime and help build camaraderie among neighbors.

The event will include a number of kid-friendly features, like face painting, a balloon man and more.

A limited amount of hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and refreshments will be available. Raffles will be held for prizes donated by local businesses.

Neighbors across the district are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of good fellowship.

For more information on the district-wide observance at West Lawn Park, call the CPD Eighth District CAPS Office at (312) 747-8724.

Below: A few video highlights from the 2012 observances.

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CPD Alert About West Lawn Robbers

Not news, really, to Southwest Chicago Post readers; but we are sharing this alert issued by CPD at 4:14 p.m. today.

Bureau of Detectives – Area Central

Community Alert
Wanted for Robbery
 8th (Chicago Lawn) District July 10, 2013

About These Crimes
This alert gives notice to residents of the 8th (Chicago Lawn) District of robbery incidents that have occurred recently. In the reported incidents, offenders approached victims, and took property by means

of displaying a weapon or physical force. Incident times and locations are listed below:

• 5900 block of S. Pulaski Ave., on June 15, 2013, at approximately 1:54 a.m.
  
• 6500 block of S. Kildare Ave., on July 8, 2013, at approximately 2:13 a.m.
  
  
  
  
  About The Offenders
  Offender descriptions vary, but are generally described as: 1-2 Male/White Hispanic offenders, 27-28 years of age, 5'8"-6'0", 130-160, Brown eyes, Black hair.

What You Can Do

• Always be aware of your surroundings
  
• Report suspicious activity immediately
  
• If you are confronted by an assailant remain calm
  
• Remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth, etc...)
  
• Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police
  
• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information
  
• Dial 9-1-1 immediately and remain on scene when possible
  
  
  If you have any information about this incident,
  Please call the Area Central Bureau of Detectives at (312) 747-8380
  
  
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Something Old, Something New at Chicago Police Department's Press Conference

With the promise of a change in the CAPS Program dangled in the faces of the city's news media by CPD, the Southwest

Chicago Post attended a police press conference today at the Seventh District station at 63rd and Loomis.

We are disappointed to report that the "news" was a small amount of new stuff only relating to the 7th, 11th 18th Districts---and not the Eighth. The rest was a mix of minor stuff and old stuff re-packaged as "new"-- like the TXT2TIP initiative, which was launched in 2009 by the Daley Administration, and the ability of citizens to share cell phone photos with 911 staff, first unveiled in Chicago in 2011.

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy also pledged to have CPD start rousting people from city parks after closing hours. Nothing new, of course. We recall CPD doing the same thing 40 years ago, every night at Marquette Park and other parks.

Anyway, here's something you won't get from the downtown news media: the full text of the CPD news release. Pasted below.

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Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent McCarthy
Announce New Ways Residents Can Communicate with Police

CHICAGO – Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy today announced a series of features through which residents can interact with police, access information about police and share information with police. The moves will improve communication with residents and increase access to information about their communities.

“Online or on the block, CAPS need to be where the community is,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We are using every asset, visible and virtual, traditional tools and new technologies, cops and community members, to make our neighborhoods safe.”

“These new tools are an important step forward for the Chicago Police Department and for the city,” said Superintendent McCarthy. “Our comprehensive policing strategy involves much more than policing alone, and by continuing to improve our communications with residents we will continue to foster stronger relationships that will benefit all of Chicago.”

Interaction with residents and the community

Twitter pilot program
Through a new pilot Twitter program, Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) personnel in the 7th (@ChicagoCAPS07), 11th (@ChicagoCAPS11) and 18th (@ChicagoCAPS18) police districts will begin using the social media site to provide residents with information about the surrounding community. They will share information on beat meetings, business alerts, community alerts and missing and found persons cases. In time, the program will be expanded to all districts.

Access information about Police

Online beat meetings
Police are also increasing access to beat meetings by allowing online participation. Beat meetings have been used throughout the city for years to provide residents, leaders and community organizations with a regular forum to hear from their local police and to voice concerns. The new initiative will keep CPD’s regular beat meetings and add an online format through which participants can watch the meeting and have their questions answered – from home or work.

Redesigned website
Additionally, CPD unveiled a redesigned, more user-friendly ChicagoPolice.org website to help residents find information more easily.

Share information with the Police

Two vehicles also allow residents to share information with the police about emergency situations and crimes.

Share pictures with 911
Another new feature allows those making 911 from camera-equipped cellular telephones to send messages containing photographs to the 911 system. This will help ensure police responding to an emergency can literally see the incident to which they are responding.
The images are sent to the Crime Prevention and Information Center (CPIC), where they are viewable in real-time by trained personnel and may be distributed to investigators. The safety of the caller is of utmost importance-- callers should not put themselves in jeopardy to take photos of crimes in progress.

To share a photo:
1. Inform the call-taker you have a cell phone photo to send
2. Call-taker initiates prompt message to caller's cell phone
3. Caller replies to prompt message with image attached
4. CPIC staff are alerted about the image
5. When CPIC staff determines an image has immediate value it will be emailed to officers in
the field or its existence will be radioed to officers in the area

Share anonymous tips via text message
Finally, through a “text to tip” program residents can anonymously and safely send information about crimes that have been committed directly to police via text message, helping police keep communities safe by solving crimes and bringing criminals to justice. Tips send to CPIC where they are reviewed by a police officer for appropriate action. This service does not replace 911 for emergencies.

To submit a tip to Police:

1. Enter the number 274637(CRIMES) in the "TO" line
   
2. In the message box, type the word CPD, a space, and then your crime tip
   information
   
3. Send the text message
   
4. Those submitting a tip will receive an automatic message, though no one’s identity will be sent to CPD

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