Police to Canvass Homes in Englewood

Police to Canvass Homes in Englewood

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The Chicago Police Department is launching a door-to-door campaign in Englewood to address lingering safety concerns, after the murders of two young girls.

Community police officers, city service workers and volunteers will attempt to visit every home in the neighborhood between now and June.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says the visits will alert police to abandoned properties and other conditions that encourage crime.

“Gangs and drug dealers don’t come from Mars, they come from the community,” Daley says. “And the community has to say ‘no.’ I don’t care if it’s your brother. I don’t care if it’s your sister. I don’t care if it’s your father or mother. If they don’t stand up and say ‘enough is enough,’ we’re going to have more cases like this — mostly innocent children.”

Daley says the plan will also educate Englewood residents about available city services.

Police Superintendent Philip Cline says residents would not be required to provide any information. The information they do provide will be entered into a city database to help first responders in case of an emergency.

Community leaders say Daley’s plan is a good first step to helping people access city services. But they say more must be done to improve the relationship between police and Englewood residents.