(Above) 18th district police commander William Dunn, on the job for only a few months, speaks at the annual meeting on Tuesday of River North Residents Association. (Click on image to view larger version.)

December 5, 2012 – Theft and street robberies are the top public safety concerns in River North, according to the new commander of the Chicago Police Department’s 18th district, who met with residents Tuesday evening.

28-year police veteran William Dunn took over in September for Kenneth Angarone, who is now working in the department’s vice section. Angarone had been commander since September 2009.

District police commanders are rotated for various reasons but Dunn described it as “the natural course.”

With headquarters at 1160 North Larrabee Avenue, the 18th police district stretches from the main branch of the Chicago River north to Fullerton Avenue and from the north branch east to Lake Michigan.

At least 200 people attending the annual meeting of the River North Residents Association took up the second floor at John Barleycorn, a restaurant that opened last month on Kinzie Street. Dunn reminded the group that crime in their neighborhood is “a lot better” than in other parts of Chicago. He says there are now fewer burglaries and batteries in River North than there were a year ago.

“We do have a problem with thefts and battery in the area,” said Dunn, with the latter resulting mostly, he says, from fights near bars.

Street robbery is also a top concern in River North. “It’s a vital area,” Dunn told Loop North News, “there’s a lot of people out all of the time and unfortunately the people here – not so much the residents – but just people in general in the area are targeted because they’re a little more affluent, they have nice things.”

He says police officers are assigned specifically to the neighborhood and keep an eye on it, particularly the entertainment areas and especially at night. He says he is “hoping to see more activity and aggressiveness from our officers to combat crime.”

Dunn started as a patrolman in the Englewood community on Chicago’s south side. He was a lieutenant for eleven years, working at CPD’s Area 2 homicide division, Area 3 robbery and burglary unit, and most recently the narcotics section.