Is Chicago really all that violent this year versus last year?

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK4Z2R-4tKYPWKe1B8ZsKuivEp42rA9frtUXygTHn-l71MHnhTMW-rl05xU-CpU366Cgaxu5J8RdiWeR9tI5kPjtn6n6WPhOkjMLtRwYyjse5s41qMnPBqYLX3YuP3FWCONj1Ho6iPdg3/s1600/cpd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK4Z2R-4tKYPWKe1B8ZsKuivEp42rA9frtUXygTHn-l71MHnhTMW-rl05xU-CpU366Cgaxu5J8RdiWeR9tI5kPjtn6n6WPhOkjMLtRwYyjse5s41qMnPBqYLX3YuP3FWCONj1Ho6iPdg3/s320/cpd.png" width="286" /></a>When we began researching the issues surrounding the violence occurring on the streets of Chicago we began with this hypothesis. Although crime may have been down statistically, the reasons for the decrease were potentially based in two areas. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1027" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="height: 133.87pt; left: 616.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 526.5pt; width: 119.59pt; z-index: 1;"><fill color2="black [0]"></fill><stroke color2="white [7]"><left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></left><top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></top><right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></right><bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></bottom><column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></column></stroke><imagedata o:title="chicago-police" src="file:///C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><shadow color="#ccc [4]"></shadow><path o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></rect><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The first, because of advancements in medicine and emergency medical personnel experienced in combat wound treatment. This premise is based on much of what Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman has attributed to the reduction in most homicide statistics nationally. The homicide rates are down because we have actually gotten much better at keeping people alive. As a result the comparison should actually be looked at aggravated assaults with a firearm or aggravated battery cases, instead of homicides. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our second premise was into the actual reporting of numbers that perhaps the numbers may actually be inaccurately recorded and portrayed. As luck would be told, a Blogger for Chicago Now, Megan Cottrell actually had a recent posting about how that very thing may be occurring. The article “<a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-muckrakers/2010/09/is-chicago-fudging-crime-statistics.html">Is Chicago fudging crime stats?”</a> It is a true eye opener. </div><br /><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So when you are trying to research statistics you have to remember the old accountant joke. Remember this one...A business man is interviewing his new accountant and he asks him “What is 2+2?” The accountant looks slyly and says “What do you want it to be?” We all know that statistics are about interpretations, factors, specific criteria. </div><br /><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Looking for information on the Chicago Police Website we began looking towards last years statistics versus this years, to gauge was it really better or worse. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>What we found was confusing to say the least!</strong></div>If you look at the two pictures you can see the statistics. The numbers actually do not add up. <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What we looked at are summary comparisons from January –July 2009 and January-July 2010. Look at the side by side comparison</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Offense </u></strong>                        <u><strong>Jan-Jul 09</strong></u>       <strong><u> Jan-July 10</u></strong></div><br />Murder                          <span style="color: red;">258 (261)</span>            <span style="color: red;">257</span><br />Crime Sex Ass               860 (875)            785<br />Robbery                      8,976 (9,034)      7,767<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Agg Assault                <span style="color: red;"> 3,435 (3,465)</span>      3,091</div>Agg Bat                       5,984 (6,029)      5,626<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Burglary                    14,083 (14,309)   14,053</div>Theft                         44,279 (45,445)   42,318<br />Motor Vehicle Theft    8,407 (8,402)     10,156<br />Arson                            367 (365)              305<br />Violent Crime            19,513(19,664)    17,526<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Property Crimes        67,136(68,521)    66,832</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9kqkvoJMZvoULpCUx7NQY3sJK9Nm6R7tZQklWuJbUAHs7VEuJorPoiArO8IIfydMxpspXmZcOzW44qqjdJReZ24voXB-o44tQqF9462yStAe6d5FwAqDNNpEilbWF5Q62EelrDhQff7C/s1600/cpd2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9kqkvoJMZvoULpCUx7NQY3sJK9Nm6R7tZQklWuJbUAHs7VEuJorPoiArO8IIfydMxpspXmZcOzW44qqjdJReZ24voXB-o44tQqF9462yStAe6d5FwAqDNNpEilbWF5Q62EelrDhQff7C/s200/cpd2.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWsbQyFqos2nSnfoztNK0jjvNkMmIFuCMOKfOt1T4EbLiHTcmKyI4lLlwKf_V5z_EXGEXAFhvxHLSIiiJZl-nAJjY3kMm49WOL1qqfLWHfQHdA4ASCjdEsR3Q1vjdAj41id63uLqZRY_o/s1600/cpd2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWsbQyFqos2nSnfoztNK0jjvNkMmIFuCMOKfOt1T4EbLiHTcmKyI4lLlwKf_V5z_EXGEXAFhvxHLSIiiJZl-nAJjY3kMm49WOL1qqfLWHfQHdA4ASCjdEsR3Q1vjdAj41id63uLqZRY_o/s200/cpd2.png" width="200" /></a>The numbers listed in red under the Jan-Jul 09 header are numbers that were listed for the 09 period on the Jan-Jul 2010 Crime Summary. Where the numbers in black under the 2009 column appear in the Jan-Jul 2009 Crime Summary. Why would there be two sets of numbers? Why would their be such a disparate difference? </div><br /><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Some of the differences can be attributed to deaths that occur after the end of the year, in which people were hospitalized and then later died. Which is understandable. But how did 226 burglaries miraculous appear on the states. Were they not burglaries at the time reported? What is most interesting is how did motor vehicle theft decrease in 2008 by 24.1% only to increase 20.9% in 2010. That’s a two fold change. That statistically is catastrophic. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Looking at Aggravated Battery reports, in 09 5,984, but by the time of the 2010 summary the 2009 numbers changed to 6,029. As a point of fact not one number shown in the Jan-Jul 2010 Crime Summary for the 2009 statistics matches the numbers in the 2009 Crime Summary, which is perplexing to say the least. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Since 2008 the Chicago Police Department has been undermanned depending on who you speak to ranging from 15-20%. What however is never talked about are those officers who are on medical leave, for either duty related injuries or off duty injuries. That number is estimated at approximately 1400-1900 officers. Add into that sick call and what is called “call back” those who are not medically cleared to work and that number jumps approximately 500 more officers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now consider that the department is budgeted for 12,500 Officers and staff is down conservatively 15% that would put there actual boots on the street roughly around 8625 officers. Hardly enough officers to address the issues occurring on the street . </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now that the neighborhoods have entrenched gang warfare occurring between neighborhood drug trafficking groups it makes the matter extremely dangerous. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to FBI Director Robert Mueller communities across the country have used similar measures to combat gang violence with success. Here in Chicago they have tried about all of them and they have been found to be inadequate. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Which brings us back to the story written by blogger Megan Cottrell, is Chicago fudging there numbers? A request to Chicago PD via a Freedom of Information request has yet to be answered. We await the specific comparison numbers requested, a future story will appear regarding this issue as we approach the end of the year.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>

Is Chicago really all that violent this year versus last year?

When we began researching the issues surrounding the violence occurring on the streets of Chicago we began with this hypothesis. Although cr...

Read more »

Gang Units: Be Inclusive not Exclusive

In the last few years all across the nation, law enforcement agencies and municipalities formed gang units. This action was a direct response in a spike or uptick of gang violence, street crimes and narcotics trafficking. <br /><br /><br /><br />Law Enforcement is typically a reactive entity. Something happens we react. The news media gets a good story, citizens complain, politicians get asked that question, “what are you doing to…?” So we in law enforcement react. The simplest approach is to send officer’s out there, make arrests and send the ‘bad guys to jail.’<br /><br /><br />In the last fifteen years we have seen street gangs move across the country. Back in the early eighties it was the Bloods/Crips, in the early 90’s Asian street gangs, in the late 90’s and early part of the century it was Sureno’s. Now we have the threat of MS-13. Where even the FBI has a task force created just to address the issue of MS-13. <br /><br /><br />Let me take you back a few years to a training opportunity I was allowed to attend through my department. In the November 2006 I attended the 3rd annual Chicago Gang Crime Summit. This is a one day course for Chicago Police Tactical Officers and Metropolitan Police Officers to learn about gang trends, current conflicts and to see what truly works against entrenched street gangs.<br /><br /><br />The Chicago Police Department has to be the most tech savvy department in the country. They have officers who can view live video feeds from “POD Cams”. They have sophisticated crime analysis software and deploy additional manpower based on the results. They have Commanders and Captains with Blackberry devices, video cameras in several squad cars and even automated license plate reading patrol vehicles. <br /><br /><br />While I sat through this very well attended training and received some very valuable information I came to a realization that they were missing something very important. What are they doing for prevention and intervention? What has Chicago done to improve quality of life? I also was thinking are we truly getting the most bang for our buck?<br /><br />Chicago has been for decades one of the best cities for sending their problems elsewhere. As the Chicago Police Department increased it’s tempo on street gangs, street crime and narcotics sales, they also went after problem buildings. <br /><br /><br />Chicago Police Department’s Problem Building Section went after homes, apartment buildings and property owners in an effort to reign in drugs and gangs. Ultimately they condemn the property, seize it, raze it or rebuild it. But because the property that is taken over, becomes pricey, that the local community members cannot afford it. Those that love the neighborhood and want to stay there, can’t keep up with urban renewal. Ultimately Chicago PD displace their problem onto someone else. <br /><br /><br />This displacement results in gang members traveling to communities that are not prepared for such activity or are just unable to see the problem arise until it is too late. As the problems continue to rise, communities will see increased street violence, property crime and substance abuse. Along with the increase in crime comes the demand for increased services through other agencies, including schools, medical and social. <br /><br /><br />Several years ago in Plano, Texas they experienced multiple deaths from high quality Heroin. The response to this issue was slow, because it wasn’t seen immediately. In early 2006 and across the Midwest overdoses from Fentanyl laced heroin caused hundreds of deaths. The response was slow, over 6 months before agencies starting communicating. The EMS agencies knew there was a problem, social services saw the problem, but law enforcement frequently says “it’s a junkie, so what?”<br /><br /><br />In order to address the gang issue, drugs and crime we need to attack it from all sides. Not to sound like a psychotherapist, but what is the root cause of the issue? I do not mean, all combined. I mean individually. There are reasons why young people in central Illinois travel several hours to Chicago’s west side to purchase their drugs. What are they lacking in their home communities that turn them to heroin use. <br /><br /><br />When we form task forces, gang units and street crime suppression units, we should be coordinating with everyone from schools, community groups, parents, businesses and religious organizations. Why? So that when these tasks forces go into play there are in place alternatives for young people to turn to. Activities such as sports, jobs, job skills training, tutoring, mentoring, spiritual guidance and counseling. <br /><br /><br />We need to train those officers about the available resources, teach them to begin mentoring young people from that first street stop. There is a gang cycle going on. That cycle repeats itself and has been repeating itself for over 50 years. We need to start interrupting it by not displacing the problem. We can no longer believe that where our borders end our problems stop. <br /><br /><br />If we didn’t learn that prior to September 11th, we had better learn it now. Look what happened after Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people displaced, no jobs, little hope, no homes, stuffed into already struggling communities across the nation. Crime jumped, no wonder why? I am sure we all thought thank god that’s not my community.

Gang Units: Be Inclusive not Exclusive

In the last few years all across the nation, law enforcement agencies and municipalities formed gang units. This action was a direct respons...

Read more »

Dial A Rock Convictions - Nice Cooperative Effort

For those of you not familiar with the <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/4-plead-guilty-in-dial-a-rock-drug-ring-investigation.html">Dial A Rock arrests</a>, it all started off of a traffic arrest for no valid drivers license. It blossomed into a federal investigation with far reaching implications into the depth of an operation distributing cocaine in the northwest suburbs for over teen years. What is even more of interest is the possible ties to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War">Mexican Drug Cartels</a>.  These organizations have infiltrated all over the United States into major cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, LA and Dallas. The new head of the Chicago DEA<a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=410823"> Jack Riley</a> has made these organizations and their links to local street gangs his number one priority.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/4-plead-guilty-in-dial-a-rock-drug-ring-investigation.html"><img border="0" height="104" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03MTF8RVRVgJrbEH0MZ9CbSGz1jIjZUGRQqe50VktZCZK-kGtr367lgGtqRXS6Ws7ONBep7gnSvQLpPXn462ta4s0S6Sg8andj-CNtPLfCfRIswJ-Z8b_B2C0hc6LFFf3TR5rE_Plg7zs/s320/_DrugDeal612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now if only Chiefs of Police, Police Administrators, Mayors and politicians would understand that the effects of gangs and the strong influence from the Mexican Drug Cartels have on their communities safety, As evidenced in the Dial-A-Rock Investigation then perhaps law enforcement can begin to reduce the influence. The War on Drugs is no longer a war, it is now an insurrection! Time will only tell.

Dial A Rock Convictions - Nice Cooperative Effort

For those of you not familiar with the Dial A Rock arrests , it all started off of a traffic arrest for no valid drivers license. It blossom...

Read more »

More dead many wounded in Chicago. When will it stop?

Well if you have been following the violence that has been running rampant in Chicago, this probably will not surprise you. <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/at-least-9-injured-in-overnight-shootings.html">Chicago Breaking News</a> posted one teen dead and 11 wounded in one night and it wasn't even the weekend. One would think that when Chicago Police Superintendent <a href="https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/WeisMessageSept2010">Jody Weiss</a> meet with Gang Leaders that he would have scared them into submission. Instead it seems they are only holding up there fingers to the Weiss. They do not fear the threat that Weiss offered because they see the Police getting investigated for crimes and prosecuted. Or Officers who kill an armed assailant on a <a href="http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cta.police.shooting.2.1919432.html">CTA Train</a> early last week are accused of executing the "unarmed" man.<br /><br />When will the good people of Chicago wake up and send a message to their elected officials. Enough is enough. In the upcoming Mayoral Election all the hacks who were never law and order types in the first place will start screaming for more law and order. A hypocrisy I say!

More dead many wounded in Chicago. When will it stop?

Well if you have been following the violence that has been running rampant in Chicago, this probably will not surprise you. Chicago Breaking...

Read more »