CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW which contains the document with a link where community members can provide written comments from August 10th through August 21st, 2020 relative to the Training Divisions’s accreditation process.
Public Notice_Training Academy Initial Accreditation 2020_Virtual Site Based Assessment
City officials joined law enforcement, prosecutorial partners and business and community leaders to announce a new comprehensive plan to further protect Chicago’s commercial corridors, neighborhood businesses and communities. Building on the all-hands-on-deck neighborhood protection plan that was launched on Monday morning, the City’s latest strategies are designed to prevent future looting attempts through stronger community partnerships, rapid response deployments, enhanced use of technology, robust legal actions and an integrated approach to geographic lockdowns.
To strengthen the City’s rapid and agile response to looting incidents, the Department will deploy officers from the impacted District, the Critical Incident Response Team, and the Community Safety team to the affected location. Additionally, City resources – including Streets and Sanitation vehicles – will be mobilized to assist CPD in maintaining control of the area through tactics such as traffic control. These resource deployments will ensure CPD has adequate coverage to protect businesses.
As part of new efforts to leverage neighborhood leadership, CPD’s Community Policing team is partnering with local community, faith-based and business leaders to conduct weekly operation meetings to improve public-private coordination and further prepare for potential incidents.
This latest coordination effort will fully integrate the business community in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications’ (OEMC) Summer Operations Center. Additionally, the City continues to deploy more than 100 infrastructure assets from the Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) and the Department of Water Management (DWM), who are working in concert with the Chicago Police Department to protect local commercial corridors.
Reinforcing the Department’s commitment to transparency and accountability at every level, the City is ensuring that all patrol officers and citywide teams in the field, including the Community Safety Team, the Critical Incident Response Team and Summer Mobile, are equipped with body-worn cameras (BWC) starting this weekend. Additionally, starting this weekend, the City has negotiated with its vendor to receive more than 500 additional BWCs to ensure that every CPD officer is equipped at all times.
Furthermore, as part of enhanced efforts to utilize technology, the Department will focus around-the-clock on open-source social media activity that could indicate plans for looting. This will include ongoing key term searches as well as review of relevant pages or accounts that have been used to organize such activity previously.
In partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department has formed a special Task Force of Detectives to specifically manage looting cases to ensure that those who loot are held accountable. This Task Force is already reviewing video camera footage and other evidence to identify perpetrators and develop strong cases against them.
The City is also strengthening partnerships with the Cook County Sheriff, Illinois State Police, and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO). The Task Force on looting will work in close partnership with the CCSAO to ensure that individuals are held accountable for their actions. The City is also considering new laws and regulations that would provide CPD greater flexibility in prosecuting cases.
The Illinois State Police will also assist in securing areas impacted by looting by restricting access to affected areas of the city. The City is also partnering with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, who will deploy into neighborhoods and supplement CPD manpower. In addition to law enforcement partners, the City is utilizing its departments and agencies to deploy new and enhanced ways to shut down geographies – including parts of the downtown core – in the event of another looting incident. These tactics include blocking and disabling vehicles as well as creating new hardened cityscapes.
Over the weekend, OEMC will continue to ensure residents have the latest information on any restricted access to the downtown area. To receive emergency alerts for updates on street closures and public transportation, subscribe to Chicago’s text or email alert system at NotifyChicago.org or follow OEMC on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Reilly Reports 8/14/2020
Many of you have reached out to my office about the recent events that have affected our city in an unimaginable manner.
In May, we witnessed unprecedented violence and destruction in our community. On Sunday, we stood by helplessly as we watched the same scene play out — this time on a magnitude of a different level.
Earlier this week, I called on the mayor and the Cook County state’s attorney to put forth a comprehensive public safety plan that not only protects our residents, but our economy.
I have spent the week talking with constituents and business owners. They all want to know how they can help.
Our mayor and state’s attorney must be held accountable and develop a plan of action that will protect our city and prosecute those who are trying to tear it apart.
The fastest and most effective way to make your voices heard are through Facebook and Twitter. I ask that you are respectful of both individuals by offering your concerns, but also thoughtful ideas that will help protect our neighbors, the business community and their employees.
Below are ways to reach Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chicagosmayor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SAKimFoxx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChicagoMayorsOffice
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SAKimFoxx
Email: Letterforthemayor@cityofchicago.org
Email: statesattorney@cookcountyil.gov
Sincerely,
Alderman Brian Hopkins
2nd Ward
TEMPORARY RESTRICTED ACCESS DOWNTOWN
The City of Chicago will continue to temporarily restrict access to the downtown area through the weekend. Restricted access will be in place from 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Note: some streets will begin to reopen as early as 5 a.m. with access restored by 6 a.m.).
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications is coordinating efforts with various city departments and sister agencies on the response. Following the looting and civil unrest experienced in the early hours of Monday morning, the City will continue to implement its Neighborhood Protection Plan across all of Chicago’s communities.
As part of an all-hands-on-deck safety plan, OEMC will deploy more than 100 infrastructure assets from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Streets and Sanitation and the Water Department, who are working in concert with the Chicago Police Department to keep residents safe citywide. These resources have been deployed throughout the city – particularly along our neighborhood commercial corridors – to further protect our communities’ residents and critical businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
The Chicago Police Department citywide teams will be used to supplement staffing for the districts, including the downtown area. Additionally, district-assigned officers whose shifts have been extended and days off canceled will be dedicated to neighborhoods across the city.
This evening through Monday, August 17 at 6 a.m., access to the downtown area will be temporarily restricted from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. The restricted access to the downtown area is NOT a curfew. All residents, workers and employers whose businesses are located downtown will have access at all times. As part of the restricted access, the following measures will be in place until further notice:
Lake Shore Drive will be closed between:
Downtown Bridges (all bridges will be up by 9 p.m. with the exception of the following):
Access Points for residents and employees of area businesses:
Expressway Closures:
CTA:
CDOT:
Access points are designated for residents, all workers and employers whose businesses are located within the designated boundaries, individuals who reside in the surrounding area and residents engaged in essential activities.
Entrance into the perimeter will be manned by officers with the Chicago Police Department. When arriving at the access points, residents and employees should show identification or proof that they live in the area and/or work in the area.
UPCOMING PROTESTS
Alderman Reilly’s office has been made aware of the following protests scheduled for this weekend. Please note that Aldermanic approval is not required for these types of demonstrations, as the right to peaceful protests is protected under the First Amendment.
As a reminder to residents, the Chicago Police Department citywide teams will be used to supplement staffing in various districts this weekend, including the downtown. Please use caution and allow for extra time when traveling in the area.
1st District
Thursday, 13 August 2020 at 5:00pm
Friday, 14 August 2020 at 5:00pm
To receive emergency alerts for updates on street closures and public transportation, subscribe to Chicago’s text or email alert system at NotifyChicago.org or follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Alderman Reilly Reports 8/13/2020
Source: 8/11/20 2nd Ward Newsletter
Dear Neighbor,
There is nothing more important than the safety of Chicago’s residents and its businesses.
In May, Chicagoans watched in dismay as our city was devastated by widespread looting and rioting. From the night of August 9th and into the early hours of August 10th, we watched a more violent type of riot take place, with shootings, stabbings, and attacks upon – and injuries to – police officers.
Yesterday morning, Mayor Lightfoot stood at a podium and offered nothing but rhetoric and blame, just as she did in May. Today, I am demanding publicly that the administration presents a safety plan that will protect all neighborhoods and small business owners. Absent a comprehensive safety plan, I am strongly in favor of asking for federal assistance.
This is not the first time I have asked for a safety plan. One week ago, I organized a crime and safety summit which included Mayor Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent Brown, Deputy Chief O’Shea, 18th District Commander Stevens, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly to directly address the concerns of brazen street violence, retail theft, and business retention along the Magnificent Mile.
During that meeting, I specifically asked the Mayor what measures would be taken to protect the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. The Mayor offered to assign more police officers to the 18th and 1st Districts, but revealed no plan for how they would respond to mass offender events like what we saw this week.
Further, I have yet to find out if the newly established Critical Incident Response Team that was created as part of Superintendent Brown’s restructuring of CPD has been fully trained to prepare for the unprecedented crime we are seeing, or how they will be used strategically to discourage another surge in retail crime.
Our city can not afford even one more night of rampant and uncontrolled criminal activity. This has to stop. And it has to stop now. I have repeated these demands in my interviews with WTTW’s Chicago Tonight and Fox 32 Chicago.
I continue to stay in close contact with neighborhood organizations like Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, Gold Coast Neighbors Association, North Dearborn Association, and River North Residents Association. Also I support the efforts of the Magnificent Mile Association as they work with local businesses on store security and re-establishing consumer confidence.
Above all, please help play an active role in monitoring our community. If you see anything suspicious, call 9-1-1 immediately. An increase in the number of these calls assists me with my demands to add special attention designations to these areas.
Sincerely,
Brian Hopkins
Alderman, 2nd Ward
The Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced the creation of the Digital Media Tip Line. The FBI encourages witnesses of unlawful violent activity in the Chicago area (especially in the last few days) to submit helpful information, photos, or videos to http://fbi.gov/chicagotips.
Residents may also send anonymous tips, photos, and video footage to the Chicago Police Department on CPDtip.com.
Please note that these websites cannot be used to report emergencies or immediate threat to life. For emergencies or immediate threat to life, please call 9-1-1.
Source: Alderman Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Newsletter
