More than 200 people came out for an Aurora Police Department forum Monday night to talk about the uptick in shootings in the city this year.
The big crowd, though, is still smaller than the city’s more than 300 active gang members, according to police figures.
Monday’s was the second of three forums to be held at the Aurora Police Station.
“I don’t want you to think the sky is falling. That’s not the case,” said Police Cmdr. Kristen Ziman.
There have been 47 shootings throughout the city since Jan. 1, and many of them are happening in police Area 2, which was the focus of Monday’s forum. That area is basically Aurora’s Near East Side.
Last year as a whole, there were 104 reported shootings. With more than eight months left in 2015, the end of the year total is expected to be higher than that, given the current trend.
The majority of this year’s shootings, 30, have occurred in Area 2. This includes the city’s two homicides. Some residents referred to the statistics as “startling.”
“Crime is not rampant,” said Police Lt. Keefe Jackson. “But when we look and see where we are compared to this point last year, we have experienced more shootings than in the past.”
Which is why Ziman said it is so important for community members to stand up.
Many of the more than 200 residents who turned out for the event are already involved in community and neighborhood groups. They are residents who are actively seeking to reduce gang violence on Aurora’s streets, police said.
But, the more than 300 documented gang members in Aurora’s seven major gangs are fighting back against those efforts just as hard, police said.
Still, Ziman said there are plenty of things residents can do to see the tide turn.
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Twenty years ago, the state of the city was much worse, she said. When shooting statistics were first recorded in 1996, there were 357 reported shootings for the year. By 2013, that number was down to 74.
“Crime was at such a reduction that people stopped coming to community meetings. It was dismal,” Ziman said. “What we have to do is re-energize the city.”
Concerned residents piped up from both the community room and a nearby courtroom where the overflow crowd was sent when seats began to quickly fill. They raised questions about what to keep their eyes open for and what to do when they see things out of the norm.
“The backbone of everything we do in Community Oriented Policing is through partnerships we make in community groups,” said Community Oriented Policing Officer Greg Spayth. “You guys are the ears and eyes of your community.”
Spayth assured residents that officers are working diligently as well.
Officers and gang investigators have used maps to identify hot spots throughout the city. They are also tracking times and days of the week when most shootings occur, police officials said.
The Illinois State Police have been called upon to help patrol, gang information is being shared throughout all branches of the department, and additional gang suppression details have been conducted. And while additional patrol units have been assigned to hot spot areas, officers can’t be everywhere at once, Ziman said.
Residents are urged to keep their eyes open for suspicious people or vehicles, graffiti, loitering or trespassing. If something stands out as odd, residents should call 911, she said.
And most importantly, Ziman said, is that residents need to get involved.
“That’s how we build trust. When we get to know one another in our communities,” she said. “Trust is pivotal if we’re going to work together to fight crime.”
A final forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. next Monday at the Aurora Police Station, 1200 E. Indian Trail. It will focus on crime on the city’s West Side.