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37-453: The CHAPD was envisioned by Vince Lane , who had served as Chairman and Executive Director of the CHA from May 23, 1987 to May 26, 1995. During a television interview, Lane recalled how as a child he marveled at how well kept public housing was and remembered being envious of the conveniences residents enjoyed. As Chairman, Lane took a personal stance in rectifying the safety and living conditions of

74-560: A mixed-income community in low-rise buildings as part of a federal block grant received for the purpose from the HOPE VI federal program. In 1996, HOPE VI federal funds were granted specifically for off-site Taylor replacement housing. The Chicago Housing Authority moved out all residents by the end of 2005. On March 8, 2007, the last remaining building was demolished. As of 2007, a total of 2,300 low-rise residential homes and apartments, seven new and renovated community facilities, and

111-498: A 15th floor apartment window; she survived the incident. On June 25, 1983, 18 month-old Vinyette Teague was abducted from the project after her grandmother left her alone in the hallway for a few minutes to answer a phone call. An estimated 50 people were in the hallway at the time of the abduction, but police were unable to gather enough evidence to make any arrests. She has never been seen or heard from since. On August 15, 1991, shortly before midnight, CHA police officer Jimmie Haynes

148-836: A Commander who oversaw their own stations. Commanders reported to the Deputy Chief, who reported to the Chief of Police who in turn was subject to the authority of the Chairman of Public Housing before the Mayor and the City of Chicago regained control in the later years. Investigative functions were under the Internal Inspections Unit. Organized crime was combatted by the Narcotic and Gang Crimes Investigations members of

185-764: A daily basis. It was the mandate of the COPS Team to instill a constant sense of security in the residents that would not end when patrol units left the area. The COPS Team was involved in sporting programs, monitored parks so kids could play, recreations such as the Midnight Basketball league, during and after school events, scouting, Explorer posts, trips with local youths and worked to build relationships unrelated to arrest and detainment. Bicycles and All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) were also utilized to place officers in close contact. The presence and accessibility of

222-474: A number of retail and commercial spaces are to be built in place of the old high-rise buildings. The development costs are expected to total an estimated $ 583 million. Part of the redevelopment is the renaming of the area to " Legends South ". The Robert Taylor Homes were also home at one time to: Because of the standardized housing and near homogeneous demographics, the RTH cluster was an ideal location for studying

259-502: A ten-year period. Complaints from the residents about the lack of police protection and presence of the Chicago Police Department, as well as the documented concerns of CPD officers who felt patrolling public housing was unsafe and dreaded answering calls for service there, went unanswered by the mayor, but were a major concern of Lane's. Vince Lane's solution to combat the rampant gang-related drug sales and crime

296-754: Is likely referential to the Gangster Disciples . Although not about the Robert Taylor Homes, author Alex Kotlowitz wrote about the Chicago Housing Authority, the demographics and the history of the Chicago Housing projects in his book There Are No Children Here ( ISBN   978-0-38526-556-0 ). The book discusses the Henry Horner Homes , but also looks at and discusses the issues within

333-504: The State Street Corridor which included other CHA housing projects: Stateway Gardens , Dearborn Homes , Harold Ickes Homes , and Hilliard Homes . Robert Taylor Homes were completed in 1962 and named for Robert Rochon Taylor (1899–1957), an African American activist and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) board member who in 1950 resigned when the city council refused to endorse potential building locations throughout

370-656: The COPS Team stop discourse between the community leaders and forced truces so the kids could play again. Relationships with the Local Advisory Council (LAC) improved, and better initiatives were implemented to deter crimes. The COPS Team regularly attended the CPD Beat Community Meetings to allow community members to become familiar and more comfortable with the officers in an attempt to make the police more approachable when they need to ask for help. Starting salary for CHA police officers

407-505: The CPD is $ 48,078, increasing to $ 68,616 after one year. From October 30, 1989, to October 29, 1999, the CHAPD lost only one officer in the line of duty. On Saturday, August 17, 1991, Jimmie Lamar Haynes died after being fatally wounded by sniper fire from a high-powered rifle at the Robert Taylor Homes two days earlier. A massive manhunt, including early morning sweeps of several buildings, led to

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444-638: The CPD is often credited for advancing community policing through the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy, or (CAPS) program, it was the Chicago Housing Authority Police Department who pioneered the advance of these techniques in the City of Chicago through their Community Oriented Policing Strategy, or (COPS) program, in public housing years before it was implemented by Chicago Police Superintendent Matt L. Rodriguez. The COPS Team

481-602: The Internal Investigations Unit and Youth Division within the CHAPD with Mayo's assistance. He expanded the C.O.P.S program by working with key leaders in the CHA which made a difference in improving community policing. He was credited with reducing the budget and getting the CHA off the trouble public housing list in the United States by implementing a plan with dedicated policing prowess and positive sports programs; scouting, explorers, D.A.R.E.,

518-491: The Midnight Basketball league and softball teams, community events for residents. His tenure provided the most safety and harmony among residents. The Chicago Housing administration credited him for cleaning up the image of the CHAPD. However, there was always politics creating fires to be put out. CPD Patrolman, Gang Crimes and PHS Tactical Team member Matthew Brandon also served as Deputy and Interim Chief from November to December 1996. Brandon had previously worked with many of

555-734: The Tactical units, Special Operations unit, DEA, Warrant Unit, B.I.T.E., Bike Unit and FBI task force members. All CHAPD units coordinated their efforts of patrol within the following CPD detective areas: Area 1 (Wentworth) and Area 2 (Calumet) covers the south and southwest sides, while Area 3 (Belmont), Area 4 (Harrison) and Area 5 (Grand Central) covers the north, west and northwest sides of the city. The Patrol division included Vehicle and Foot Patrol, Patrol Specialists, COPS Team Members, D.A.R.E. Officers, Juvenile Officers, Bike Patrol, ATV Unit Officers, Abandon Auto Unit, ERPS Officers, B.I.T.E., Canine Unit and (prior to its demise) Warrant Unit. Although

592-550: The arrest of three suspects; Ellean Nance, 20, Lorenzo Guye, 18 and a 13-year-old boy. Robert Taylor Homes Robert Taylor Homes was a public housing project in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois from 1962 to 2007. The second largest housing project in the United States, it consisted of 28 virtually identical high-rises, set out in a linear plan for two miles (3 km), with

629-489: The city of Chicago that would induce racially integrated housing. At one time, it was the second largest public housing development in the country, and it was intended to offer decent affordable housing. It was composed of 28 high-rise buildings with 16 stories each, with a total of 4,415 units, mostly arranged in U-shaped clusters of three, stretching for two miles (three kilometers). The Robert Taylor Homes faced many of

666-644: The department's beginnings in March 1989 until October 1999, as the Department grew and learned. Gary Gunther was named as CHAPD's first Chief of Police and was a retiree from the Illinois State Police. He was quickly followed by Madren Anderson, who was a District Commander for CPD's 2nd District, and Ira Harris. Both Gunther's and Anderson's reigns ended before the first class of police hit the street. Harris served as chief until October 1991 and it

703-480: The dismantling and eventual the demise of the entire department. They did little to lead the department but found many ways to work with the opposition to defame and mere the officers reputation. Chicago Housing Authority Police Department was divided into Operations Services, Administrative Services, Investigative Services and the C.O.P.S. Team. There were five police districts, ( Robert Taylor , ABLA , Ida B. Wells , Altgeld Gardens and Cabrini–Green ), each led by

740-636: The effects of urban living and lack of "green space" on the human condition. This type of research in environmental psychology was most clearly demonstrated by a group of studies done by Frances Kuo and William Sullivan of the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory (formerly the Human-Environment Research Laboratory) at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign . The history and economy of this housing development

777-499: The high rises. In the Robert Taylor Homes a survey was conducted and showed that the majority of residents either had a family member in prison or expected one to return from prison within two years. This caused issues when residents tried to relocate; many of these returning prisoners had partners, children and/or mental illnesses that prevented them from relocating to another residence. The Mickey Cobras (MC's), Gangster Disciples (GDs), and Black Disciples (BDs) gangs dominated

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814-548: The high-rises regularly configured in a horseshoe shape of three in each block. It was located along State Street between Pershing Road (39th Street) and 54th Street, east of the Dan Ryan Expressway . The project was named for Robert Rochon Taylor (1899–1957), an African-American activist and the first African American chairman of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). It was a part of

851-615: The housing development's 27,000 residents were unemployed and listed public assistance as their only income source, and 40 percent of the households were single-parent, female-headed households earning less than $ 5,000 per year. About 96 percent were African-American . The concrete high-rises, many with the scars of arson fire, sat in a narrow stretch of slum . Neglect was evident in littered streets, poorly enforced building codes and scant commercial or civic amenities . Aside from neglect and ignoring crime, police officers also felt unsafe in darkened hallways and were frequently shot at from

888-470: The housing project. Police intelligence sources say that the elevated number of homicides was the result of gang " turf wars ", as gang members and drug dealers fought over control of given Chicago neighborhoods . The CHA estimated that $ 45,000 in drug deals took place daily. Former residents of the Robert Taylor Homes have said that the drug dealers fought for control of the buildings. In one weekend, more than 300 separate shooting incidents were reported in

925-534: The personnel he would later lead as chief and added to the CHAPD's aggressive edge in its war on gang violence. On December 1, 1996, LeRoy O'Shield left his post as Commander of CPD's Austin District to become the eighth Chief of Police for the CHAPD. O'Shield's thirty years of experience, support for esteemed building programs for youth and community-oriented policing background led CHA Administration to believe that he would be instrumental in improving relations with

962-420: The residents and serve as the bridge for better co-operation between the CHAPD and CPD. That definitely was not the case. LeRoy O'Shield and Harvey Radney were the last two to be appointed as Chief under the direction of the Mayor and control of CHA by the City of Chicago. It was well known that the previous chiefs used their skills and experience to enhance the growth of the CHAPD, O'Shield and Radney were key to

999-539: The residents by ushering in the repair of dilapidated low and high-rise buildings, combined with improved protective services for the inhabitants. Ensuring that his plan came to fruition did not come without obstacles. Lane's plan was in opposition to the Mayor's Advisory Council's report, which was printed by the Chicago Tribune in July 1988, and called for the razing of 8,000 units of family high-rise buildings over

1036-417: The residents of the CHA. The city posted CPD units within the building at 365 W. Oak Street for (Public Housing North) and 4848 S. State Street for (Public Housing South) almost twenty years prior to the coming of housing's own police. CHAPD's first station was located at 4947 S. Federal Street in CPD's 2nd District, which was also known as the "Deuce". There was a long line of leaders who served as chief from

1073-514: The same problems that doomed other high-rise housing projects in Chicago such as Cabrini–Green . These problems included drug dealing , drug abuse , gang violence , and the perpetuation of poverty . Planned for 11,000 inhabitants, the Robert Taylor Homes housed up to a peak of 27,000 people. Six of the poorest US census areas with populations above 2,500 were found there. Including children who are not of working age, at one point 95 percent of

1110-403: The vicinity of the Robert Taylor Homes. Twenty-eight people were killed during the same weekend, with 26 of the 28 incidents believed to be gang-related. Numerous crimes occurred in the Robert Taylor Homes, reaching an all–time high in the mid–1970s. Most crimes committed at the housing project were drug and street gang violence related. In October 1976, 22–year-old Denise Dozier was thrown from

1147-474: Was $ 29,104 in 1990 and increased to $ 49,723 over the next eight years. The average patrolman's salary was $ 3,000 more a year than CPD's officers. Although it caused animosity between the two departments, the higher salary received by CHAPD officers proved to be a valuable tool when the Fraternal Order of Police union bargained for higher salaries for the CPD with the city. In 2017, a starting salary for

Chicago Housing Authority Police Department - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-400: Was created as a special unit to establish a rapport with the residents of public housing that the regularly assigned mobile and foot patrols units that answered calls for service could not. Because of the design of the buildings, clusters of row houses, three story dwellings, or varying high-rise structures, CHAPD's COPS team members were encouraged to engage this densely populated community on

1221-467: Was fatally wounded by a sniper rifle at the project. He died two days later at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center . Three suspects were charged with his murder. A maintenance worker at the project was beaten to death by gang members after he allowed police officers access to a building where a gang meeting was taking place in February 1993. In 1993, it was decided to replace all Robert Taylor Homes with

1258-419: Was in constant conflict with the Local Advisory Council (LAC) over officer safety issues. Joe P. Mayo, Commander of CPD's Youth Division, served as Interim Chief from February 1994 to April 1994 and Commander of Administration under Chief George Murray of CHAPD. Murray, a major with the Illinois State Police, took leave to become head of the CHAPD, was chief from April 1994 to November 1996. Murray established

1295-443: Was on his watch that CHAPD lost their only officer in the line of duty. Harris was succeeded by Hosea (Hosey) Crossley, who served from October 1991 to February 1994. Crossley, former Commander of the Chicago Police Department's PHS unit, brought with him over twenty years of police experience and knowledge of the problems CPD faced in patrolling the housings environment. Although Hosey was respected and favored by his subordinates, he

1332-416: Was studied by Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh in his book American Project ( ISBN   0-674-00830-8 ). In his 2008 book Gang Leader For A Day : A Rogue Sociologist Takes To The Streets ( ISBN   978-1-59420-150-9 ), Venkatesh also profiled the area, its residents and the "Black Kings", a Chicago gang known for selling drugs. The "Black Kings" were renamed for the book to preserve anonymity, although it

1369-490: Was to create his own police department to work within the system of the Chicago Police, but unhampered by the boundaries of CPD's assigned districts. Since public housing was spread throughout various neighborhoods and local suburbs, the CHAPD was endowed with a broader jurisdiction. Previously the federal government paid the City of Chicago 13 million dollars a year for extra patrols to provide adequate protection for

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