Among the things the new director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy Program hopes to achieve during his tenure is to rebuild trust between the Chicago police and minorities.
Among the things the new director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy Program hopes to achieve during his tenure is to rebuild trust between the Chicago police and minorities.
“Historically, relations between the Chicago police and minority communities have not been good,” said Phillip Hampton, director of CAPS. “Until minorities feel they can trust the police there will continue to be a code of silence when a crime is committed.”
Another way Hampton hopes to improve relations between minorities and the police is by working more with community leaders such as pastors.
“Most pastors are respected by the community so by working through them I hope to reach those residents who still do not trust the police,” said Hampton, who is also a deacon at Sheldon Heights Church of Christ on the far South Side.
And while CAPS, which has 50 employees, may have a new director the overall vision for CAPS has not changed, Hampton said.
“We must reconnect ourselves with community groups such as block clubs if we are going to be successful at helping residents take back their neighborhoods from gangs and drug dealers,” he added.
This is also something echoed by Mayor Richard M. Daley.
“I have told Phil that I consider the CAPS program to be the key element in empowering residents to take back their neighborhoods from the gang bangers and to work with the police department to address neighborhood issues,” Daley said. “Because of violence against our kids, I believe there is no more important time than right now for the CAPS program to grow.”
CAPS’ primary mission is to empower communities to get involved in solving problems in their community by attending CAPS meetings and even joining their Local School Council.
“But if people do not attend the CAPS meetings they will miss the opportunity to ask questions,” explained Hampton. “Residents can call 311 to find out where to go to attend a CAPS meetings in their community. This is the first step at regaining the community’s trust and hearing from the police who patrol their community.”
Routinely police sergeants, patrol officers and even commanders attend CAPS meetings, which are not held at police stations but neutral locations such as libraries, churches and schools. There is a CAPS meeting held in each of the city’s 280 beats, Hampton said.
In July Daley appointed Hampton as the civilian CAPS director after the previous director went to work in the mayor’s office. Prior to Hampton taking over the program he worked as the director of the 311 Center, the city’s non-emergency department, and before that he was the director of Community Relations for Chicago Public Schools.
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