CAPS
CAPS (A.K.A., C.A.P.S.) is an acronym for Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. CAPS is the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Departments' approach to successful community policing.
Since its formation 1992-1993 by Police Commissioner Matt L. Rodriguez, CAPS has been recognized nationally and internationally as a model for the reduction of crime. Members of police forces from countries all around the world have visited the Chicago Police Department to learn about the successes and failures of CAPS.
There are several elements, critical to the City's community policing strategy:
That police, residents, and other city agencies working together can prevent crime and improve the quality of life in all of Chicago's neighborhoods;
That positive working relationships need to be established between local police and residents;
That law enforcement, community based, and City service strategies need to be developed and implemented in order to prevent and reduce crime.
Five Step Model of Problem Solving
A very important tool for making community policing effective in Chicago is the five-step problem solving model. This model can also help you and the members of your community focus on issues and activities specific to your neighborhood. These five steps are listed below and are illustrated as being applied to a block club:
1. Identify and Prioritize--
Through a democratic process of brainstorming and voting, select the most important issue for you and your neighbors from a list of issues that your block club is willing to work on. Some things to consider when you are prioritizing are how many people does the issue affect and if it is something that you will be able to impact in a reasonable amount of time
2. Analyze--
With respect to crime and disorder issues, using a "Crime Triangle" of location, victims, and offenders will help focus your efforts. Ask the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about all three sides of the triangle. A thorough analysis will help you develop more effective solutions.
3. Design Strategies--
Again,through a process of brainstorming and group discussion, plan what you are going to do about the issue and who is going to do it. Remember, everyone should have a role to play. Make sure that the strategies you chose are legal, feasible, and won't take too long.
4. Implement Strategies--
This is the time when you put your strategies in action. Particularly with respect to crime-related issues, the community, police, and other City departments need to help each other to follow through and complete the tasks.
5. Evaluate and Celebrate--
This is the time to review with everyone how the strategies worked, what challenges may have been encountered, what strategies might need to be changed, and whether the issue has been completely addressed. Once you have evaluated the results you have achieved, always remember to celebrate your successes.
CAPS Beats in the 24th District - (1993-2012)
It is rumored (substantiated, but no final descriptions, etc. yet) that the 24th District will be renumbered as the 21st District in 2013. The listing of the 1993-2012 beat assignments is strictly for historical reference.
The 24th District-Rogers Park Headquarters is located at 6464 N. Clark Street.
The District's boundaries are (starting at farthest east and north corner)
Jonquil Terrace and Lake Michigan west to CTA Tracks;
then, CTA Tracks southeast to Howard Street;
then, Howard Street west to Kedzie Avenue;
then, Kedzie Avenue south to Devon Avenue;
then, Devon Avenue west to North Shore Channel;
then, North Shore Channel south to Peterson Avenue;
then, Peterson Avenue east to Ridge Boulevard where it becomes Elmdale Avenue;
then, Elmdale Avenue east to Broadway;
then, Broadway to Thorndale Avenue;
then, Thorndale Avenue east to Lake Michigan.
The District is divided into three Sectors:
10 Sector, Beats 2411, 2412, 2413
20 Sector, Beats 2422, 2423, 2424
30 Sector, Beats 2431, 2432, 2433
There are nine beats in the 24th District. Their borders are:
2411 - North: Howard Street; South: Pratt Boulevard; East: Ridge Boulevard; and West: Kedzie Avenue.
2412 - North: Pratt Boulevard; South: Devon Avenue; East: Ridge Boulevard; and West: Kedzie Avenue.
2413 - North: Devon Avenue; South Peterson Avenue]]; East: Ridge Boulevard & Ravenswood Avenue; and West: Kedzie Avenue.
2422 - North: Juneway Terrace; South Jarvis Avenue; East Lake Michigan; and West: CTA Tracks to Howard Street to Clark Street to Jarvis Avenue
2423 - North: Jarvis Avenue; South Lunt Avenue; East Lake Michigan; and West: Clark Street
2424 - North: Howard Street; South Pratt Boulevard; East Ridge Boulevard; and West: Clark Street
2431 - North: Lunt Avenue; South Pratt Boulevard; East Lake Michigan; and West: Clark Street
2432 - North: Pratt Boulevard; South Devon Avenue; East Lake Michigan; and West: Ridge Boulevard
Note - Beat 2433 is the only beat not in Rogers Park or West Ridge
2433 - North: Devon Avenue and Sheridan Road; South Peterson Avenue and Elmdale Avenue to Broadway to Thorndale Avenue; East Lake Michigan; and West: Ridge Avenue and Ravenswood Avenue