UCR (Uniform Crime
Reporting) Statistics
• Since 2012 Sauk
Village has had the highest UCR reported crime in South Suburbs
• In the 8 UCR major
categories; Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Theft, Motor
Vehicle Theft and
Arson; crime went
down 8.9% in
2013, 13.1% in 2014
and is projected to go down 64.6%
in 2015.
• The question is;
are Sauk Village's reported UCR crime real or contrived?
• For the first 8
mos. Prior to Chief Kowalski's arrival major UCR crime averaged 22.9 crimes a
month, after Chief Kowalski's arrival major UCR crime averaged 6.5 crimes a
month a difference (or reduction) of
69.9%.
• We did a
precursory assessment of reported major UCR crime in 2014. It was determined
that reporting numbers were erroneous. We did not determine why.
• I contacted the
University of Illinois regarding a project that would provide a team to conduct
a non-bias forensic audit of our UCR reports going back to 2012. I have sent
the UIC the necessary paperwork to proceed with the project. Sauk Village does
not have the resources to conduct such an audit and even if it did it would not
pass the non-bias standard.
Why is this
important?
• This type of
reported information when reviewed by the public is conceived as factual.
Opinions are then formulated about the Village as to its viability as a
community to start a business, live, work or play.
• If the audit shows
that the Village's UCR fillings are inaccurate the Village has the ability to
go back one year (2014) and change that report with corrected findings.
• Corrected
findings, I believe, will show that Sauk Village is not the crime ridden
community it is portrayed to be and will immediately remove us off the Illinois
list of worst crime communities.
• Corrected findings
will give the Village an opportunity to be competitive with its neighbors on a
business footing and show it can be viable place to raise a family.
Creation Citizen Complaint
Review Board (CCRB)
• Sauk Village does
not have the resources to review or make "determinations of findings"
on all public complaints against employees.
• This lack of
resources allows misconduct to go unanswered, angers the public for lack of accountability
and gives the perception that the Village is protecting its own.
• The creation of a
"Citizen Complaint Review Board" would allow selected members of the
community apart from the government the ability to review and make
recommendations on employee conduct. The CCRB would either make a
recommendation to dismiss a public complaint or forward it for corrective
action.
• Public input is
paramount to the overall success of a community, it becomes even more important
when a public employee falls under real or conceived scrutiny.
• I will be working
with our attorney's and sending the Public Safety and Ordinance Committee a
draft Ordinance for the creation of a Citizen Review Board.
Update on Blueprint
Partners Project (BPP) - Vacant Housing Component
• Staff has combined
four independent vacant housing lists into one master list. The independent
lists varied from as high 707 vacant houses to under 400 vacant homes.
• The new master
list, lists 564 vacant homes in three categories:
•
Vacant with sewer service only - 6 houses
•
Vacant with water service only- 75 houses
•
Vacant with no water/sewer service - 483 houses
• Staff will proof
the current master list one last time and then start updating the information
as new information presents itself.
• Staff has begun
placing green "Vacant" stickers on identified vacant housing (in
accordance with our agreement with Cook County). The community responded
positively and is informing staff of occurrences at housing where the stickers
were placed. Staff is also finding occupancy in some of the identified houses
where owners failed to obtain occupancy permits or establish water accounts.
When squatters are identified the information is turn over to SVPD.
• Once the master
list is proofed staff will begin to identify those vacant housing that are in
arrears to the Village. The Master list, in time, will also identify other
pertinent information that can be used expedite water services.