The Evanston Police Department is inviting community members to attend deployment strategy meetings this month.

Police Cmdr. Jay Parrott says it  will be a unique opportunity for residents to see firsthand the pre-planning and real time decisions that shape the delivery of police services and response in the city to address crime and neighborhood issues.

Residents will be able to:

  • See deployment maps produced each week by the department’s crime analyst depicting the prior week’s crime patterns, disturbances and significant incidents;
  • See how the deployment maps help police deploy their resources;
  • Learn how officer’s activities and calls are monitored in the field by supervisors on the mobile in-car computer system called, “M.D.B.;”
  • Observe real time video surveillance cameras throughout the city that are used by the patrol commanders and supervisors for immediate deployment decisions;
  • Get a summary of major criminal cases;
  • Learn how one can subscribe to the weekly police YouTube video updates;
  • Hear about the Text-a-tip Program; and
  • Gain a better understanding of police presence in their neighborhoods or other areas of Evanston by asking questions during the question and answer session.

The meetings will be held on three Saturdays — Aug. 13 at the Evanston Police Department, 1454 Elmwood Ave., Aug. 20 at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., and Aug. 27 at the Howard Area Outpost, 633 W. Howard St. All three meetings run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Cmdr. Tom Guenther at tguenther@cityofevanston.org or Cmdr. Jay Parrott at jparrott@cityofevanston.org or call the Police Department’s Community Strategies Office at 847-866-5019.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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