A little over three months ago I was appointed as the new Director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategies Implementation Office.
A little over three months ago I was appointed as the new Director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategies Implementation Office.
CAPS started in 1993 and has been seen, according to criminologists at Northwestern University, a model program for the nation in terms of community policing. The program was created to establish relationships between the police department and the community and the strategy was initially conceived to be run by civilians. The CAPS strategy was conceived originally to be run by civilians.
From the beginning I have been evaluating the core elements of the strategy to identify management efficiencies within the organization, similar to what the Chicago Police Department has done in order to return as many sworn personnel in administrative positions back to field duty as possible, in an effort to combat crime.
I thought it a necessary attempt to look at the 200 sworn police personnel assigned to the 25 district’s CAPS community policing offices and figure out a way to reassign some of them to their respective districts.
In theory and on paper it looked doable to keep at least two to three sworn police personnel along with at least several CAPS civilians in each district CAPS office to offset the void. I know in reality and practical application will be the true test.
I personally contacted the 25 CAPS District Advisory Committee Chairs DAC chairs, who handle the day-to-day reporting of the CAPS civilians, regarding upcoming changes to the CAPS strategy. I also mailed letters to all 50 alderman and personally explained the changes at the monthly all CAPS Staff meeting.
My next intentions were to communicate with all district commanders and the residents.
However, before the next phase of communication the blowback began. The media was made aware of the pending changes, giving the impression that the re-organization of CAPS and eventual dissolution of the program was imminent.
Not true.
It has always been a foregone conclusion for the last several years that as the City of Chicago evolved, CAPS would as well.
After hearing some of the community’s concerns about how the changes might impact the implementation of CAPS at the district level, it was decided to take some additional time to make sure that we identify and address all the concerns before moving forward with changes.
In this difficult economic climate, every city department must manage smarter with existing resources.
From the beginning, CAPS took on many initiatives in the way of partnering CPD with residents through many community outreach and city services resources.
The core mission of CAPS hasn’t changed.
Let’s take a look at some existing CAPS initiatives and services:
*Provide crime-prevention trainings to block clubs and community organizations
*Organize school-based safety programs with Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage and Safe Havens initiatives
*Organize activities addressing problem buildings and vacant lots; neighborhood clean-ups; positive loitering activities in high-crime areas to repel illicit activities
*Providing training on available city services and ways to access those services to prevent and reduce crime
*D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for students)
*G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training for elementary school students)
*Peer Jury program
*C.I.T.Y. (Cops Interacting and Targeting Youth sports program)
*S.T.A.R.S. (Students Taking Authority and Reaching Success for female students)
*Keeping It Real program (at-risk students hear first-hand from current inmates the reality of being behind bars)
* Senior citizens programs
*Neighborhood Youth Corps
*Tuskegee Airman-Careers In Aviation
*Hooked On Fishing program for underprivileged youth
*Domestic Violence outreach and prevention programs
*Annual Gun Turn-In campaign
*Code of Silence campaign
One may wonder, “I didn’t know CAPS had so many community outreach components to offer.”
For some time now, CAPS lacked a direct community awareness/public service announcement. Talks are underway with WVON-AM/1690 to create a program for CAPS initiatives to be discussed through various methods, including commentary and listener feedback.
In other words, a spirited debate is on the horizon.
Human nature has dictated that people are resistive to change due to comfort, convenience and the perception of an atmosphere of calm.
To borrow an old adage, “the more things change the more it remains the same.”
The change in CAPS can be perceived as getting back to basics: more community involvement and less police control anchored in a lawful communal co-existence, cooperation and trust.
I asked many community leaders, faith-based groups and residents what could CAPS do to have more of a presence in the neighborhoods?
The response was overwhelmingly the same, “Bring CAPS back to the community; give CAPS more community involvement with ideas coming from the community.”
The community has spoken and we listened.
We will work with the suggestions and concerns the community has conveyed. The main concern is more police presence in the streets to combat chronic crime and fight public violence.”
For the community policing officers who will be reassigned to their districts, you take with you a wealth of knowledge, information and experience that will give you direct outreach to the citizens you built relationships and trust with during your time in CAPS.
You have a double-dose and time-honored higher level and concern for the community beyond when you graduated from the training academy and took a sworn oath to serve and protect.
You take with you natural born community leadership qualities that your fallen comrades in recent months, Thomas Wortham, Michael Bailey and Thor Soderberg exhibited in their personal lives…with fresh eyes.
You will have the unique opportunity to inspire the residents to become more involved in concerns of their neighborhoods.
The CAPS officers who will be reassigned to their districts can become the catalyst for change in building a stronger bridge of trust, cooperation and attention between the police and the community.
Mayor Richard M. Daley started and sanctioned the program 17 years ago. The least we can do as a lasting positive legacy of Daley — who will not seek re-election — is keep CAPS moving forward and incorporated in our communities, with renewed inspiration, hope and a brighter vision for the future.
Daley will leave a political landscape that will probably not be matched by any mayoral successor for some time to come. The departure of the mayor means the political landscape will change in Chicago as we know it. His last words before he teared up was “fear not the future.”
I ask the citizens and CAPS officers to: “fear not the future…everything must change, even CAPS.”
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
Ronald M. Holt, a veteran Chicago police officer, is the Director of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Implementation Office. He’s also a founding member of the Purpose Over Pain organization. www.purposeoverpain.org.
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