Uptown Public Safety Meeting Reveals Meds Being Sold For Drugs

CHICAGO — Chicago police commanders from the 19th and 20th districts joined aldermen and community members last week to discuss recent shootings on the city's North Side. The meeting gave the public a chance to learn more about the shootings, learn what police are doing to combat the violence and share ideas about how the community can work together to make their areas safer. Several hundred people attended the event.

Ald. James Cappleman released the following overview for those who couldn't make it to the event:

• It appears that the recent uptick in gun violence is related to drug sales, and many people involved in the violence (including the victims) live in other parts of the city. Drug sales in Uptown tend to be low-level. It appears that some people are selling their prescription medication to buy illegal drugs in low-dollar amounts, Cappleman said. The alderman emphasized that residents should call 911 for every drug deal they witness.
• Compared to last year, overall violent crime has decreased
• Police resources are dictated by objective criteria, such as the amount of crime and the volume of 911 calls
• New police technology is making it much easier to make arrests, and in all three of the last incidents where someone was shot, the alleged perpetrators were arrested, Cappleman said.
• People with questions about 911 response time or the outcome of a 911 call can speak with the local CAPS office to get their questions answered. (311 can provide the phone number)
• Police are guided by laws about what they can and cannot do to address crime. Loitering is not a crime, but selling drugs is.
• It is difficult to make arrests in many cases because the victims do not step forward to file charges

The meeting was also hosted by Ald. Harry Osterman, the new 19th District Police Commander Chris Papaioannou and 20th District Police Commander Sean Loughran.