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12-3-10
Gazette Article:
"Last Daley Budget Guts C.A.P.S. Program"
Gazette Editorial:
"Daley Caps Mayoral Career by Gutting C.A.P.S. Program"
10-7-10
NeighborWISE Editorial
CAPS Officers are Chicago’s Best Defense Against Crime!
As a resident of Chicago's 12th District, I strongly oppose the reduction of CPD CAPS staffing.
The proposed plan to return some CAPS Officers to field duty in an effort to "combat crime", overlooks the most important fact...
these Officers are already in the trenches, effectively "combatting crime" on a daily basis. CAPS Officers connect with Chicago residents first-hand,
as no patrol Officer, or civilian resident can.
• It's the CAPS Officers who teach programs to our children about Drugs, Gangs and Bullying. CPD involvement in these programs is crucial,
to establish early relationships and foster trust with the CPD. From police records, they can identify and target at-risk youth and work with them to
provide alternative activities.
• It's the CAPS Officers who support your wife, mother or daughter through the system after she has been raped, assaulted or is the
victim of domestic violence. These trained and dedicated CAPS Officers can provide prosecuting assistance to the victim and confront the abuser
as no civilian could. And it is the CAPS Officers whom neighborhood residents have come to trust, when they find themselves the victim of domestic violence.
• It's the CAPS Officers who promote Safe Havens and Safe Passage initiatives for your family and children to protect their safety
on a daily basis, enlisting the support of community volunteers to insure your child can walk safely to and from school.
• It's the CAPS Officers who educate our seniors on issues of safety to prevent them from becoming crime victims. CAPS also conducts
programs with community supporters who provide seniors with tools such as the whistles and I.D. bracelets.
• It's the CAPS Officers who confront owners of problem buildings and businesses, some of which are home to gangs and drug dealers.
These Officers follow through with the building owners with authority, enlisting the assistance of various City of Chicago departments as no
civilian resident could.
• It's the CAPS Officers who organize Court Advocacy programs that provide a support system for crime victims. These Officers
assist victims and their families, often enlisting civilian support from Chicago residents who rally and attend court hearings with the victims’ families.
• It's the CAPS Officers who conduct monthly beat meetings, connecting one-on-one with Chicago residents and provide advice
and assistance based on current stats for crime in their specific area. These Officers are the first line of defense in developing relationships
between Chicago residents and the CPD.
CAPS developed from the initial civilian-run program to include today's current CPD participation because it was essential...because CPD
involvement was needed to make the partnership successful!
While the CAPS program relies on the active participation of Chicago residents and community organizations, removing most of the CPD Officers
is a shortsighted attempt to fighting crime. CAPS civilians alone wouldn't have the same impact or be as effective without access to info,
records and the authority and trained experience that CAPS Officers can provide.
When you ask Chicago residents to "Stop the Silence" and to tell CPD Officers about ongoing crime in their neighborhood, that request has
to be built on trust. And the most important weapons the CPD has in developing and fostering that trust, are the CPD Officers involved in CAPS.
You don't need to bring CAPS Officers "back to the streets"...they're already there!
Kathy Kozan
Chairperson; NeighborWISE.org
Voice YOUR Opinion to:
Ronald Holt, Director of CAPS: ronald.holt@chicagopolice.org
AND
Jody Weis, Superintendent of Police: jody.weis@chicagopolice.org
Police Headquarters; 3510 S. Michigan Ave.; Chicago, IL 60653
EMAIL US: neighborwise@yahoo.com with a copy of your Letter & we will post it to this site.
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