Chuck E. Cheese's Says Security Issues Will Be Addressed
Oak Lawn and corporate officials from CEC Entertainment look at options to improve and enhance safety of customers and employees.
Corporate executives from the company that manages Chuck E. Cheese’s met with village officials on Tuesday in response to a shooting last month in the restaurant’s parking lot.
Village Manager Larry Deetjen gave CEC Entertainment until the end of the business day to commit in writing to address security issues before the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting.
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"They're responsive, but not where we need to be," Deetjen told village board members.
It is the second time in less than a year that executives from the company’s headquarters in Irving, TX, have flown out to personally meet with village officials to discuss security issues at the Chuck E. Cheese’s at 4031 W. 95th St.
In an emailed letter to the village manager shortly before the start of Tuesday's village board member, CEC responded to issues of capacity, security technology and the possibility of chipping in with the landlord and other businesses for a "village scout police car."
CEC's director of risk management Jeffrey R. Strege said his company would work with the village fire chief in developing an accurate headcount addressing overcrowding and capacity.
Strege further noted in the letter that the restaurant was under capacity the night of Dec. 22 when gunshots were fired into a car where a 20-year-old man sat in the front seat.
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The man, an alleged gang member who had been attending his child’s birthday party at the restaurant, escaped being shot by diving under the steering wheel. Oak Lawn and Chicago Police gang units are said to be investigating the shooting.
The village also asked CEC to reevaluate its digital camera technology and consider funding a “village police scout car,” along with the building’s landlord KIMCO, and other businesses, in the shopping center’s parking lot.
CEC said it is considering the unprecedented measure, “albeit as a tenant that does not have the right under its lease to patrol the very same parking lots where the scout car would be posted.”
The company is prepared to add armed off-duty police officers for an additional weekday as well as school holidays.
CEC said it would also re-open discussions of using off-duty Oak Lawn police officers for security instead of the off-duty Chicago cops the Chuck E. Cheese’s currently uses.
Deetjen described the tone of Tuesday’s meeting, which included Trustee Tom Duhig, whose fourth district includes the family entertainment center, as “very much engaged.”
“We’re not there yet,” the village manager said. “I liked the fact that they’re communicating with the whole board of trustees. I’m going to ride these folks. I’m very serious as far as those three areas go.”
Duhig said he had never received complaints from residents about Chuck E. Cheese’s until Dec. 22, the night of the shooting.
“There weren’t really complaints about Chuck E. Cheese’s but more about what’s happening to the neighborhood and community,” Duhig said. “[The shooting] could have happened in a church parking lot. What can you do? It’s a random crime.”
Chuck E. Cheese's business and liquor licenses expire on April 30.
JRV1813
6:40 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Duhig wake up. It's not random. There are fights there all the time. Notice nobody from our neighborhood goes there. It's disgusting , the animals that go in there. I live 5 blocks away and have 2 little kids and I take em to Tinley or Downers without ever thinking about going to "ours".
And Patch, whats with the ads in the middle of the story? I can't read the first few paragraphs. Great pop up.
Neighborhood Guy
7:17 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Deetjen seems to be a real anti-business "leader". Businesses pay taxes for the police to protect the area. They shouldn't have to pay a Deetjen tax also because his he won't fund enough police. I'm sure Evergreen Park or Chicago Ridge would welcome Chuck E Cheese. More importantly, Deetjen's constant bashing and bullying of businesses makes business leaders think twice about investing in Oak Lawn. I think it is time for him to go
Liopleurodon
8:44 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
So we as taxpaying residents should foot the bill for the wastes of oxygen that Chuck E Cheese attracts to out village? Deetjen doesn't fund the police, the residents do. As a resident, I refuse to pay my hard earned money to subsidize the security a business that attracts customers that are bad news for my village. If EP wants it they can have it.
ImaginaryFriends
7:34 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I'm sure Evergreen Park or Chicago Ridge would welcome Chuck E Cheese.
Um, completely wrong. Why you ask, because whenever they have to respond there to back Oak Lawn up, they say, thank God its not our town
George Pickett
9:20 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What about Ford City? Let the Chicago cops deal with the problems!
Kelly
7:48 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Both EP and the Ridge have enough issues without wishing more upon themselves. while Deetjen seems to be tough on businesses, I believe he has to be on businesses that attract the wrong element into the area. The building management/owners have to add more lights to the parking lot area, especially between CEC and Longhorn and that entire east side. KMart has its own set of issues with constant theives practically looting the store. The Jewel and Home Depot are always in the papers as well. Sounds like an entire force needs to be designated to that quadrant of Oak Lawn....Getting to be a tougher area than it should be, our good old Oak Lawn.....
Julie
9:08 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Feel free to send all these targeted businesses somewhere else - maybe 95th & Halsted??? . I'm sure EP & Chicago Ridge live this dream everyday as well. I adore my neighborhood - maybe we need a lot more cul-de-sacs like Beverly did.
George Pickett
9:27 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What about just closing it down? Same with Hooters.
George Pickett
9:30 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
63rd and Halsted would be better I think. Lots of empty lots over there. For those of you baby boomers out there that grew up on the Soiuth Side you probably remember that area WAS a thriving shopping district. Revive it I say!
Bn
11:15 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Julie we don't have cul-de-sacs .....we get the problems over here too...with the new home run in there has been alot of fights there it is every where.
OakLawnGuy
9:14 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
NG's post contains the next big question this Village is going to face: is it time to hire more police officers? (Second question: where's the money coming from?)
Donna
9:55 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I live behind Kmart near 95th and Pulaski and those stores are attracting some real trash. Older people in our neighborhood are always a target for these people and it doesn't stop there. A young man in my building was approached while he was jogging during the day by a man trying to rob him. This young man isn't a small man either; he is approximately 6' 5". These people are gang bangers and on drugs and don't care who they hurt. I don't shop at that Jewel or Kmart but will go to the Jewel at 103rd and Cicero. All of the businesses near that intersection need to pitch in and pay for Oak Lawn Police to scout the area constantly. Personally, I would kick Chuck E. Cheese out; Oak Lawn eventually got rid of Brunswick Zone.
Farrell
10:22 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Duhig said. “[The shooting] could have happened in a church parking lot. What can you do? It’s a random crime.”
He's kidding, right? It's not a question of WHERE Up-chuck Cheesy is, it's the fact that it exists at all. The ones I'd lived near over the years have been nothing but trouble - absolutely nothing.
Vernon Wormer
12:11 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Your right. I see a lot of small (some tiny) troublemakers congregating at that place. Some of these troublemakers drink openly from bottles. Usually, it is a white substance that they are drinking. I've seen them crying and screaming when it is time to go. I've seen them running around the place without any consideration that they may run into someone. I've seen them hog games and collect "tokens". I've seen them spill drinks and let pizza fall on the floor from their messy faces. I've seen children
Paraday
11:11 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
So if you google McDonalds Shooting you will see numerous over the years.. But do you see Villages trying to kick them out? Police are to protect and Serve and yet you make a business pay for the extra police needed for a family establishment. Where there is crime you put police. This shooting could've happened anywhere plane and simple!
OakLawnBill
2:32 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Businesses with repeated security issues are asked to pony up their share. Gang members are not likely to hold parties for their children at McDonalds. They go to Chuck's in Oak Lawn because it is off their turf. Christ has to have improved security because of the gang bangers that are taken there. Why should we subsidized someone's? They can charge an extra buck to cover security.
Pat F
12:19 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Duhig said he hasn't heard anything about this establishment!! Whatever district this is you people better remember this next time his election comes up..You can sit here and argue all you want.. The issue is Oak Lawn is not safe on the East edge!! Very few Oak Lawn people bother to go there..Christ Hospital emergency room is also the last place you want to be, especially after dark..Take it as you will..I moved into Oak Lawn as a kid in1959..Changes are going on everywhere, but these changes shouldn't be allowed.. Wake Up Oak Lawn Residents! If something isn't done now, we will be exactly like Chicago!!
Michael
12:19 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
They should also do something about the people who park toward the back of CEC and pleasure themselves. Seen that a few times. That whole development with the exception of Pep Boys sucks
...
comic relief
12:24 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
First of all.... what were these bad guys doing carrying guns??? Illinois doesnt have a conceal carry law.
tmarc75
1:44 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Hahaha that's great! I needed that!
Rich
12:38 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
It makes you wonder what 111th and Cicero is going to be like when it gets " developed " ?
Scary thought for the Cloister Condos and surrounding neighborhood.
rick
4:15 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Comments like these is why "sleepy Tommy" has to go....wake up and see what else is happening in district 4! There are more things going on in distict 4 than just Christ Hospital...also btw thanks for retuning my phone calls, wait a minute you did not respond to a single one...
Ann Last
4:59 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Attitudes like Duhig's are one reason these problems continue. There needs to be a constant police presence in this commercial area. There are enough thefts and crimes at the businesses on both sides of 95th to justify it. How to fund it is a different question, but nipping this crime wave in the bud is the right thing to do. Criminals should be scared to come to our neighborhood and our stores.
Borninol
8:53 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Just shut the friggin place down!! It's not like we can go there.