Chicago police send letter to CPS parents asking for help controlling 'teen takeovers'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Police Department is looking at ways to try and prevent "teen takeovers" as warmer weather moves in, and police are hoping for help from CPS.

Scenes of hundreds of teenagers descending upon downtown have become all too familiar, blocking the streets and sidewalks, dancing on cars, and now in two recent incidents have turned violent.

There were only a few, if any, reports of problems Friday related to large gatherings. Police had a noticeable presence as CPD and CPS are now partnering on a message aimed at parents.

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At Millennium Park, a large teen gathering promoted on social media did not materialize Friday night, but police and representatives from community groups were ready.

"When we see teens, we stop, talk to them, engage with them, you know, see what's on their minds, see how they feeling," said Rodney Phillips with a Crisis Prevention Response Unit.

At a Streeterville movie theater, popular with young people, there were police and barricades. The business has imposed an age restriction for unaccompanied minors.

RELATED | Alderperson seeks earlier curfew for minors after shooting during Streeterville teen takeover

A series of so-called "teen takeovers" in recent years led CPS and CPD to warn school families in an email that anyone failing to comply with orders to disperse could be arrested.

"Hey, parents, we need you," CPD First Dep. Supt. Yolanda Talley said. "Have a talk with them, you know. Let them know, you know, it's good to go out with your friends and enjoy the city. Don't be disruptive."

SEE ALSO | Yolanda Talley becomes first woman to hold CPD first deputy superintendent position

The Chicago Police Department sent the email to Chicago Public School parents overnight, strongly encouraging them to refrain from allowing their kids to attend such events.

CPD said in the letter in part, "In instances of large gatherings, we will use de-escalation and dispersal techniques to encourage our young people to comply with the law."

If they do not comply, CPD warns, teens will be subject to arrest.

"So many of these events recently have taken place around 7 or 8 p.m. and then they really start to gain momentum by 10 p.m.," 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins said. "You can't enforce the curfew when you've got 50 police officers and 500 teenagers."

This comes after two recent takeovers in Streeterville left a 15-year-old boy and a tourist shot.

Alderman Hopkins plans to introduce an ordinance for an earlier 8 p.m. curfew - from the current 10 p.m. cut-off at next week's City Council meeting to cover parts of the Loop, Streeterville, River North and West Loop areas.

RELATED | 15-year-old boy shot as large crowd of teens gather in Streeterville, Chicago police say

Neighborhoods, which have fallen particularly victim to these takeovers, he says.

"We've had two incidents in Streeterville in the month of March," Alderman Hopkins said. "It's never happened that early before. We've had crowds of excessive 200 and in both of those incidents there was a shot fired moment... cut to - "So the level of violence in these incidents is escalating."

Superintendent Larry Snelling recently spoke about the issue and CPD's response in an interview with the ABC7 I-Team.

"We're going to arrest people," Superintendent Snelling said. "It doesn't matter if you're a teenager, if you're an adult, we're going to follow the law. It's going to be constitutional, but we will take people into custody who are committing crimes and inflicting harm on other people."

Mayor Brandon Johnson has made it clear he does not support moving the teen curfew any earlier. Instead, he wants to see more investments in young people by partnering with neighborhood groups.

"Stuff for studios, basketball, whatever activities students like, you know, just more programming for students to be themselves," said James Robinson, a youth organizer and peacekeeper with Good Kids Mad City.

The mayor said in a statement, "There are investments that the city can make. And then there are things that I know that the business community, you know, they want to do more, and many of them have leaned in, but we do need them to do more."

CPS says, while there is no way of verifying where the teens are coming from or even if they attend CPS, the district, said in a statement, "Chicago Public Schools values our partnership with all city agencies and remains committed to partnering with others, particularly law enforcement agencies and community organizations to support the safety and well being of youth and all those who reside in or visit our city."

Mayor Johnson said members of the business community have partnered with the city to invest in those youth programs, but he's asking business leaders to do even more.

"Let's hear from the young people and empower them to have a voice in what is it that, you know, they want to do," said Anna Durr, a youth Organizer with Southside Together.