The time for control is NOW

About 6:30PM there was a huge gang of kids gathered on Clay Street, just north of Church Street. When I passed, there was just one police car in the Metra parking lot, and shortly after that I noticed an officer on foot.

My guess was 50-60 in the vicinity, blocking the sidewalk in front of the fence in front of the beer garden behind the bowling alley, and spreading north on Clay. And these weren't clean-cut kids heading to the movies. Many were in the category described as "Minority" and were obviously just out to roam the streets.

Hello? Where are the parents?!!!

Police presence no doubt was the cause of their moving along fairly promptly. Here we are at the beginning of the summer. School isn't out yet, but the gangs are already roaming the streets.

We the People are not about to let gangs take over Woodstock. All law-abiding people - men, women, boys, girls - are welcome, as long as they obey the laws. If they form gangs and block sidewalks, jaywalk, walk in the streets or ride bikes so as to impede traffic, litter, or disturb the peace, then they should be arrested.

Heavy police contact with them should be constant to identify them. Write lots of contact cards. Tighten down on curfew. Three young males crossed Church Street right as the cop on foot passed them, and he didn't say a word to them. Why not run them up to the crosswalk, after writing out contact cards?

What will Main Street look like later tonight and later this summer? Will the restaurateurs' and movie theater business suffer? What will the Park in the Square look like and sound like?

The police alone will not be able to control these gangs. It is going to take parents, social workers, school personnel, church members - everyone.

If you are unwilling to let Woodstock go to the dogs, then speak up now. Contact the City Council, Mayor, City Manager and Police Chief. Tell them now what you expect. Come on down to the Square and enjoy it. If you are not able to enjoy it because of the punks, call the police.

The time to establish order is now, before it gets more out of control.

LITH to gang up on gangs

This morning's Northwest Herald reports a planned meeting in Lake in the Hills (LITH) to educate residents on what the police can and cannot do regarding gang activity. The meeting seems to be for the benefit of one neighborhood, but probably anyone can attend.

The LITH meeting will be at the Safety Education Center, 1109 Crystal Lake Road, Lake in the Hills, on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at 7:00 PM.

The paper reported seven gang-related arrests in one neighborhood in July and also that the meeting this week was planned before the day of the arrests. The four arrested on Thursday were 18, 17, 16 and 15. The 15- and 16-year-old were charged with aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful contact with street gang members.

This last charge was a new one for me. What does it mean?

Illinois 720 ILCS 5/25-1.1. Unlawful Contact With Streetgang Members

(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful contact with streetgang members when:

(1) He or she knowingly has direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act [740 ILCS 147/10] after having been sentenced to probation, conditional discharge, or supervision for a criminal offense with a condition of such sentence being to refrain from direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member or members; or

(2) He or she knowingly has direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act [740 ILCS 147/10] after having been released on bond for any criminal offense with a condition of such bond being to refrain from direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member or members.

It appears that, to be charged with this section of the criminal code, the 15- and 16-year-olds must have some criminal history and must have violated a condition legally imposed on them.

LITH is to be commended for being pro-active in its community. What would it take to get this type of meeting in Woodstock? Residents need to know just what help they can expect from the police. Specifically.

How often do you drive on a street in Woodstock and find kids walking in the traffic lane like they own the town? Or tearing down South Street on a skateboard (or a bicycle), after dark and while wearing dark clothing? Oh, the cap twisted to the right or left on the head will protect them? Yeah, sure...

Should you have to drive on the wrong side of the street to avoid these kids, or should they be walking on the sidewalks?

Do the police ever ticket them? In May one Woodstock officer did ticket four skateboarders in the roadway. He was the only one who did, and he got four of them in one day.

Polite, Forceful and Hopping Mad!

Two Woodstock residents laid into the City Council last night and expressed high displeasure with the “community policing” program of the Woodstock Police Department.

I arrived shortly after the beginning of the meeting, when a woman was reading a sharply-worded, well-written statement to the Council and asking pointed questions. Her remarks were followed by those of her husband, a retired police officer. He spoke well and without notes. The gist of their complaints is that the strong police presence around the Square has drained off protection levels elsewhere in Woodstock.

Their home in the Prairie Ridge subdivision was apparently damaged to the extent of $12,000, and they and other residents are concerned about the scarcity of police protection in the middle of the night; say, between 9:00PM and 4:00AM, when there might be one sergeant and three officers on duty. It’s easy to imagine that one serious call can require all four, and not just briefly.

What is the real extent of gang activity in Woodstock? My sense is that much information about Woodstock gang activity is not released to the press; if it is, then the press is choosing to be selective in its reporting of it to the public.

The law-abiding People of Woodstock are not going to tolerate gang activity, but we’ve got to know about it in order to take effective action against it.

More details will follow. I stayed at the Council meeting to hear the consultants discuss the parking study.

Woodstock High School - Parent Observations

Recently a parent of a high school student commented to me about a visit to Woodstock High School. How many parents take the time these days to visit their child’s school and become aware of the atmosphere in and around the school? Those comments included "intimidated; uneasy; gangs; no dress code; bling."

What has been your experience recently at Woodstock High School?

Earlier this week I drove past the high school just before the last bell. On Putnam Street a gang of kids was congregated near one of the doors. When I say a “gang”, that’s just what it appeared to be. There were 10-15 teenagers just hanging around on the steps and sidewalk. Black attire, punk hair styles, scrawny-looking. Bikes on the sidewalks and steps.

I wondered why they were outside looking in, when (from their ages) they should have been on the inside, looking out.

Schools are to be safe, positive learning environments. If you don’t have business on school grounds, you stay off.

There should be no groups (of any nationality) roaming the hallways or blocking the passage of anyone - student, staff, teacher, parent or visitor. Display of respect and good manners should be a given.

Kids today don’t learn these things at home, so the schools are forced to become alter-parents.

A few years ago I talked with a woman whose 100-year-old mother had been a teacher in Mississippi and was honored there for her 40-year teaching career. She said that, when the principal walked onto the stage, the auditorium was so quiet you could hear cotton drop. Now, that's quiet!

What happens at Woodstock High School when the principal walks onto the stage? Does everyone quickly stop talking and pay attention to him?