Gun Crimes Will Get Immediate Alerts After Community's Request

CHICAGO, IL - The community's call for immediate notifications when there's a gun-related crime reported nearby has been answered less than 24 hours after a meeting about recent crime incidents drew hundreds of residents to the basement of a local church. 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea said Thursday that Area South detectives of the Chicago Police Department will begin issuing alerts "on single incident gun related crimes" in the city's 22nd Police District.

"Historically, Area South has issued community alerts when crime patterns are identified," O'Shea wrote in an email to residents. "However, given the heightened concerns associated with recent gun related crimes, all parties agree to work more closely together."

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O'Shea also said that the police department has already begun deploying additional resources to the neighborhood.

Well over 100 people gathered in the basement of St. Barnabas Church Wednesday night to discuss ways of ensuring Beverly and Morgan Park remain safe after a string of three armed robberies were reported earlier this week. One of the most-discussed issues was in response to a question about if the community could be informed immediately when there's a crime involving a gun instead of waiting for a pattern of incidents to occur.

To address a few residents' concerns that were brought up during the meeting regarding the 911 dispatch system, O'Shea said members of the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication have been invited to attend the upcoming CAPS meeting for Beats 2211 and 2212 that will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the 22nd District Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave.

Photo by Tim Moran / Patch File