Public Safety Meeting Held in Response to Hamlin Park Shooting
Held just weeks after a 15-year-old student from Alcott College Prep was shot in Hamlin Park, a public safety meeting was organized by Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) to address growing concerns about public safety in the area.
The meeting was attended by Chicago Public School officials and police from the Chicago Police Department’s 19th District. Officials from CPS shared that additional security measures have been put in place to ensure student safety, including metal detectors that screen all students who enter Alcott College Prep, extra security guards, and increased CPD patrols in the area. Despite the shooting being a targeted incident related to gang affiliations, police believe it to be an isolated incident.
"I would not characterize this as a hotspot," said an officer who spoke at the meeting.
Alderman Waguespack emphasized the importance of resident feedback in identifying hotspots and allocating police resources effectively. An allocation study is underway across the City of Chicago, which will help determine when and where police officers are placed. 911 calls and resident feedback are key factors in the study.
"If you live in the 32nd Ward or anywhere in the city, be vigilant. We say, Hamlin Park or the North Side, you have to be concerned about where your kids are every night, watching your kids, and I think that goes for any neighborhood in the city," Waguespack said.
Crime Data and Recent Incidents
The latest crime data from CPD shows overall crime is down marginally year-to-date, but offenses like burglary and aggravated battery are up 31% and 29%, respectively.
Recent Shooting in Hamlin Park
On October 4, around the time Alcott College Prep was dismissed for the day, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the back and arm in what police believe was a targeted incident related to gang affiliations. The boy was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in serious condition.
The Chicago Police Department is asking residents with cameras in the surrounding area of Hamlin Park to check their footage and send any helpful footage to the 19th District at caps.019district@chicagopolice.org, or call the 19th District at 312-744-8320 and reference RD# JH455488 for the police report.
Conclusion
The public safety meeting was an important step in addressing concerns and reassuring parents and residents that measures are being taken to ensure their safety. With an allocation study underway, Waguespack’s office is working to identify hotspots and allocate police resources effectively to keep communities like the North Side and Hamlin Park safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What measures are being taken to ensure student safety at Alcott College Prep?
- Metal detectors that screen all students, extra security guards, and increased CPD patrols in the area.
- Why was the shooting in Hamlin Park considered a single, isolated incident?
- Police believe the shooting was a targeted incident related to gang affiliations, but not a hot spot for crime.
- How can residents help with community policing efforts?
- Residents can provide 911 calls and other feedback to help identify hotspots and inform police resource allocation.
