CWB has never pushed for the elimination of certain social service programs in the area. We do, however, feel that many area service providers could be much better neighbors by ensuring that their clients conduct themselves properly and by assisting, rather than resisting our police officers.
One group that has caught a number of residents’ eyes is the Night Ministry’s Thursday night service call in the MB Bank parking lot at Halsted and Belmont.
Again, we think the Night Ministry provides an important service. We do not think that they are particularly good neighbors.
At least twice a month, passers-by call in fights and other incidents in the parking lot and adjacent areas on Thursday evenings, which leads to police dispatch exchanges such as this one from 9:19PM tonight:
Dispatch: Units in 19 and on citywide, getting a call of a battery in progress. 800 West Belmont. 800 West Belmont for a battery in progress. Four people fighting in the parking lot and 16 on-lookers. No further information…
Police Unit 1: All right. Got it.
Police Unit 2: We’ll go.
Police Unit 3: That’s probably the Night Ministry and the kids over there horsing around.
Police Unit 1: Indeed. Always.
Officers resolved the matter.
