Page 42 - 01D_CL7_APR20.indd

TAC team officers bust robbery ring, earn CPMF honor
n BY DAN CAMPANA
A string of robberies on the Gold Coast, where people sim- ply walking the neighborhood had their belongings taken from them, prompted the 18th District’s tactical team to do their part to find the offenders.
The actions of four officers – Julio Perez, Christopher Pil- grim, Jesse Resendez and Joseph Reyes – and Sergeant Er- ick Seng leading to the arrest of four people earned the team members the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Officer of the Month Award for March.
Following several holdups in the area, some that left victims injured, the tac squad conducted a special mission the night of Jan. 14. The officers covered the area from Oak Street to Chi- cago Avenue, and Rush Street to the lake. During their covert patrol, Reyes and Perez spotted a BMW that matched the de- scription of a vehicle used in the robberies.
The pair noticed one person in the vehicle eyeing pedestri- ans after using his hood to obscure his identity. Around that time, the officers learned the BMW was reported stolen, fol- lowing an overall pattern of stolen vehicles being used in rob- bery attempts.
With that information, Resendez and Pilgrim attempted to make a traffic stop, but the BMW sped toward Lake Shore Drive and jumped the curb when officers tried to block its path. The stolen car made it to The Drive and headed south until the driver lost control of it and crashed near McCormick Place.
Although some occupants of the car tried to run from the scene, officers apprehended all four people. A search of the ve- hicle turned up drugs and two guns.
Prosecutors issued charges that included unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. More importantly, the arrests gave investigators looking into multiple similar robberies the op- portunity to potentially link the group to more crimes.
“What is important is that the rash of street robberies seemed to have stopped,” CPMF Director of Operations Frank Gross said at the ceremony honoring the officers. “While today we honor these officers involved in this mission, we are also reminded that it is an example of a team working together to solve a crime pattern and acting swiftly to get the job done.
“We cannot put an accurate count on the number of crimes that are prevented by good police work done every day in ev- ery district by our police officers on every watch,” Gross added. “We salute these tactical officers who are receiving this award, but acknowledge the other tactical officers in every district of the city who are using their skills, their smarts and advanced technology to solve crime problems,” he said.
Fellowship and art in the 11th District
The Senior Subcommittee in the 11th District held a paint- ing, safety and socialization event for seniors in the commu- nity on the morning of Feb. 20. Through provided paint sup- plies, the seniors were able to share fellowship and express themselves through the art event.
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2020