ALDERMAN WANTS TO ESTABLISH COP HOUSE

Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale wants to establish a COP House in his ward. The privately-funded, police-backed pilot program would serve as away to reduce crime in the Chicago Police Department 5th District. Photo courtesy of Alderman Anthony Beale.
Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale wants to establish a COP House in his ward. The privately-funded, police-backed pilot program would serve as away to reduce crime in the Chicago Police Department 5th District. Photo courtesy of Alderman Anthony Beale.

Alderman Wants To Establish COP House

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale believes that establishing a “COP House” in his ward will reduce crime in the neighborhood.

Beale introduced an order that would establish the house, which would be privately-funded and police- approved for the Chicago Police Department 5th District. Beale said a private entity is set to fund $200,000 of the project.

The order states, “The Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department shall review and take all necessary actions to approve a community policing pilot program, commonly referred to as [a] COP House” in the 5th District.”

The Community Oriented Policing (COP) House idea was originated in Racine, Wis. The house would be rehabbed, used as a satellite Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy office and a community center, where kids can participate in different activities.

There would also be cameras around the house. The other part of the project would involve taking a vacant lot near the house and transforming it into a playground.

“It gets the people on the block in the community involved with the police because now the police are there every day. They’re in and out of the house every day. They’re interacting with the residents and they become a neighbor on the block,” he said.

According to Beale, in Racine, Wis., the program reduced crime by more than 50 percent. Beale added at a minimum, he is looking to do two COP Houses in his ward as a pilot program.

“And, if it works, then we can roll this thing out across the city. Because right now, there are no other programs being pushed [or] funded,” he said. “This is an innovative idea that I think will work.”

Beale said he is trying to get the administration to approve it, but according to him, they will not. When asked why the administration would not approve the pilot program for the COP House, Beale said he is unsure. He said he presented it to the last three police superintendents, including Eddie Johnson, Charlie Beck and David Brown.

“My commander is in favor of it. The community is in favor of it. I’m in favor of it and it’s a unique crime fighting tool that is a no-brainer because it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything,” he said. “If it works, we have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose.”

Beale said the community is frustrated because there was a house under contract and because the project was not approved, the contract was lost. Meanwhile, Beale said five people have been shot this year, three around the house and two on the block. It is Beale’s hope that the project gets approved this year, so it can be ready for spring 2021.

“It should’ve been open this year where we could’ve saved some lives. We could’ve done different things, that didn’t happen — but I’m still pushing,” he said.

When asked about the reaction from Black Lives Matter, defunding the police and abolishing the police groups, Beale said having a COP House in the 9th Ward wouldn’t conflict with any of those movements, adding the house would be “a totally privately-funded program.”

Beale added he’s excited about the program. He said the community and funders are ready to go.

The Mayor’s Office said they would defer to the Chicago Police Department about the project and the Chicago Police Department Office of Communications said the proposal is still under review.

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