Page 42 - Demo

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4th District CAPS working to bridge the gap
n BY DAN CAMPANA
Edward Ramirez saw a lot while working the streets for nearly two decades in the city’s 4th and 6th Districts, so he’s not shy in saying his move to community policing in May proved to be a “change of pace.”
That doesn’t mean Ramirez, the 4th District’s CAPS ser- geant, has shown any signs of reluctance to jump right in with ideas focused on a simple goal of bridging the gap between the Department and residents in a geographical- ly large district that includes a demographically diverse population. It’s about engaging different age groups in positive ways, while also showing active support for the community in difficult times.
November offered good examples of both. On Veterans Day, about a dozen officers participated in a soccer tour- nament organized by the CAPS office with as many as 120 children on 10 teams. Officers served as coaches and of- ficials for what turned out to be an exciting day of games.
Weeks later, in response to a series of shootings that oc- curred within a 24-hour period, CAPS organized a “Wake Up” community rally on the corner of 88th and Exchange streets to connect with worried residents.
“We wanted to let the community know that, one, we needed their help...and two, that police weren’t forgetting about them,” Ramirez explained.
Approximately 40 people attended to hear a local pas- tor’s prayers and words from Commander Noel Sanchez. As a thanks to those who showed up for the event, several turkey dinners were raffled off as part of the ongoing ef- fort to “build a relationship” with residents, Ramirez said.
Ramirez talked about the success of a recent “Coffee
with a Cop” gathering where residents took the oppor- tunity to discuss everything from neighborhood crime to the Bears with police. He’s also hoping to rely on local seniors to help serve in mentoring roles for kids through things such as a chess club.
And, sports have been a big theme in Ramirez’s ef- forts to connect with youth in the community. A fall flag football league, run with support from the Chicago Park District, proved to be popular. Ramirez said plans are in the works to begin putting together a baseball team with kids from around the community to compete in a league against other districts in Area South this spring and sum- mer.d
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2017