Rush Hosts Crime Prevention Forum

citizen |

by Thelma Sardin

On Monday evening, Congressman Bobby L. Rush held a forum seeking ways to prevent crime in the Chatham community. The event was held at St. Dorothy Catholic Church Fellowship Hall, 450 E. 78th St.

Hundreds of community residents were in attendance for the discussion.

Congressman Rush opened the event by declaring police require help from residents. Law enforcement need us, they cant do it all by themselves, he said.

The Congressman also said it is time for people to reclaim Chatham.

We have to decide for ourselves that either we are going to be part of the solution or part of the problem, he said adding, This neighborhood used to be the best neighborhood in the city of Chicago.

The two and a half hour community conversation featured high profile law enforcement officials.

Forum panelist included: Acting Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez, 6th District Commander Eddie Johnson and a host of state and federal law enforcement officials.

The acting superintendent thinks crime is not entirely a law enforcement issue. This isnt a police problem; its a community emergency, he said. Additionally, McCarthy believes locking up offenders will not rid the Chatham of wrong-doing. We cant arrest our way out of crime, he added.

Community members also voiced concerns for a stronger police presence in the neighborhood.

Al Wysinger, Chicago police first deputy superintendent believes having officers on foot patrol fosters cooperation among police and community residents.

Foot patrol is a way for communities to know the officers that are in their district and on their beat. It [is] also a way for the officers to know the bad guys.

The acting superintendent also said he does not endorse citywide taskforces to eliminate crime. He believes officers who work in the same area everyday have a better chance of reducing deviant activity. McCarthy added that he does believe in giving resources to commanders to support officers working the same beats daily.

Local businesses role in crime prevention was also addressed at the meeting. Businesses seem to promote the crooked element in our community, Congressman Rush said as he referring to some of the shops that line the 79th St. business corridor. He posed the question to the audience, What can we do as a community to deal with some of these businesses that dont care about our community? The Congressman was met with an immediate roaring response from the audience.

During the forums conclusion, Rush highlighted two key concerns, cooperation and police presence. We need to leave here with a program of cooperation because this community needs to work together with these law enforcement agencies in order to solve our problems, he said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced the redeployment of 500 officers to the streets. The measure is supposed to enhance the departments capacity to protect Chicagos streets and build strong relationships with community members in the neighborhoods they serve.

The officers will be redeployed for 90 days but Congressman Rush believes they should stay longer. We want these police officers who are temporarily assigned for 90 days. We want them in our neighborhood for at least one full year, Rush said.

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