News/Commentary

Affluent Chicago residents taking matters into their own hands as crime rages out of control

April 30, 2022 | | Print Article

CHECK OUT WeThePeople.store and WeThePeople.wine for gifts and awesome snarky swag!

Chicago has become so overrun with crime that affluent citizens on the North Side of the Windy City are looking to private police for protection against the increased threats of carjackings and other crimes.

The armed security officers would not be responsible for making arrests but would dial 911 in an emergency and be present with their eyes, ears, and cameras to document any suspicious activities in the area, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The push for privatization encompasses several neighborhoods – including Laketown, Lincoln Park, and Bucktown. And there are likely plenty of qualified candidates to go around as it was reported in February that police officers are leaving the Chicago Police Department in droves due to the lack of support from so-called leaders like Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot who is a lesbian queen of the anti-police movement.

The toll the defund the police movement has had on the city is astounding – The Bucktown neighborhood alone has been riddled with a 30 percent spike in crime in the first three months of this year alone, compared to the same period of time last year.

Bucktown resident and mother Vanessa told WGNTV last December that in light of the recent carjackings, she is open to the idea of additional security on the street.

“I recently heard about a dad taking his baby out of the back and was carjacked and so now with a newborn I am more scared about it,” Vanessa said.

Bucktown Neighbors Association contracted in December with private security firm P4 Security Solutions to provide additional security in a block encompassing several blocks just west of Interstate 90 above North Avenue.

Alderman Brian Hopkins recognizes why some of his constituents in the Bucktown portion of his ward feel the added protection is necessary.

“They are taking matters into their own hands out of frustration and fear and they feel like they’re being targeted and preyed upon on a nightly basis,” he noted, adding, “which they are.”

However, some feel that the police should be the ones responsible for cracking down on crime and question what role private security can play.

A Lincoln Park resident who wished to remain anonymous told CBS2 that the police should be patrolling the streets.

“I think the responsibility of protecting the neighborhood is the responsibility of the police, not private security,” the resident said, perhaps not realizing that there aren’t many police left on the force to do so.


Nine others also disagreed with the Lincoln Park residents whose neighborhood is also seeking to employ P4, including resident Francis Marfone.

“This is a very nice community and I think that those that might be demanding that are kind of overreacting,” she said.

Some people on social media were quick to point out the city’s contradictory statements on defunding the police.

Latest posts by A. Hill (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles