CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago police and 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin said they're taking several steps to address three recent shootings in Chicago's North Center and West Lakeview neighborhoods during a virtual meeting of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy Tuesday.
Commander Chris Papaioannou said the fatal shooting outside Lake View High School last week had nothing to do with gangs in the school and that it's part of a trend of gang members coming into the area.
"They're utilizing areas that are much more quiet," he explained. "They're utilizing areas that don't call the police that much and they're coming into that neighborhood and just doing whatever they're doing-coming through and that's when the shootings have been occurring."
Resident Katie Mack applauded police for working with current resources but questioned why they're being allocated elsewhere.
"Nobody has really clearly addressed the fact that we are moving our resources out of our ward into other areas and why that is."
Police say the department is using its cameras and plate readers to identify stolen cars, while asking residents to share ring doorbell video to help identify suspects.
Assistant State Attorney Aileen Bhandari responded to complaints logged during the virtual meeting that too often people charged with crimes are back out on the street quickly.
"We as a state attorney's office- we don't let people out on bail," she said. "That is a decision-that is a statute as to who makes the decisions and what parameters are used to make those decisions."
Matt Martin said the police department is allocating more detectives and gang investigators to the neighborhood but resident Angela Foster Rice wants more clear- cut responses.
"We do need some specific concrete actions and I heard little bits and pieces, but I didn't really hear enough," she said.
The police department said they're using license plate readers to find stolen cars and are conducting traffic missions on main corridors like Irving Park Road and Ashland Avenue to address a growing amount of gang activity in the area.
