A July 12 CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meeting that was expected to draw hundreds in Lakeview attracted so few people that police relocated it back to its original meeting space at the 23rd Dist. police community room.
Slightly more than 30 people attended the CAPS safety seminar, an instructional two hours on street smarts facilitated by police. The meeting was to be held Inter-American Magnet School to accommodate the crowds expected in the wake of a July 3 stabbing that was videotaped.
Despite a low turnout, most in attendance seemed to find the session with Sgt. Alex Silva, a veteran officer, time well spent.
Silva offered up a check list of common sense precautions that Chicagoans can take to protect themselves from crime and violence.
"Safety is something that a lot of people don't think about until something happens," he said.
According to Silva, awareness and avoidance are key. He cautioned against using cell phones and earbuds in the street or on public transportation, as doing so both distracts the user and calls attention to expensive electronics.
He also emphasized the importance of intuition about potentially dangerous situations.
People, he said, "don't want to give in to what they think is paranoia." However, that paranoia can be useful, he said. Those who recognize situations that make them uneasy and avoid them are far less likely to be made targets.
Silva said that many people are reluctant to react to their intuitions for fear of offending others, but that safety is more important than manners. However, he added, it is important to separate personal discomfort with actual illegal activity and threats before calling police.
"It's not about what are they dressed like, what do they look like, but what do they do," he said.
One man asked a question on many minds as of late: Is it illegal to loiter in a large group late at night?
No, said Silva. While groups are not allowed to block pedestrians, "anyone has a right to stand on any part of the sidewalk."
If a group is doing something illegal, however, residents can always call police by dialing 911. If police are needed on scene, even for a non-emergency, residents should dial 911, not 311 said Silva.
Silva recommended that residents carry flashlights or pepper spray when traveling alone in dark places. He also advocated for the use of pepper spray over crime whistles, which he said are no more effective than yelling. He suggested testing pepper spray outdoors to get a feel for how it works. He also recommended carrying house keys on a lanyard, which can be swung at an oncoming attacker.
Whatever the reason, he said, "just don't stop." Stopping to offer the time or money or allowing people to slow you down, can have consequences as such simple requests can be bait. No matter what, he said, keep moving and appear confident. Stay alert and look around often.
Even when faced with a gun, Silva recommends running away immediately because, he said, it is hard to hit a moving target and many people do not use real guns in muggings.
Not all tactics will work in every situation. In the case of the videotaped July 3 stabbing in which one man was attacked by a large group, Silva said preparedness may only get one so far.
"When you have a group attacking you, I mean this advice is good, but I don't know," he said.
For more information on CAPS and upcoming safety seminars, go to portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Get%20Involved.
