More Officers to Patrol

More officers to patrol around Hyde Park school after NIU graffiti found
Kenwood Academy school day not interrupted
Tribune staff report
February 28, 2008

Police patrols around Kenwood Academy in Hyde Park have been beefed up after graffiti referring to the Northern Illinois University shootings was found Monday in a men's washroom, police said."NIU wasn't a joke" was scrawled in a second-floor washroom alongside gang signs, Capt. Lucio Martinez said. The graffiti was cleaned up immediately and did not interrupt the school day, he said.
"It just wasn't funny," Martinez said. "We're taking this seriously to the point where we're doing our best to assure that nothing develops from it. We don't think it will, but we're still there with increased police presence."Two Chicago Police Department officers are assigned regular duty at the school, and two additional officers will patrol the neighborhood around the school, 5015 S. Blackstone Ave., Martinez said.Chicago Public Schools spokesman Mike Vaughn said the school sent home a note to parents Tuesday and held an assembly Wednesday morning to remind students of the school's security rules.Students are required to pass through metal detectors and display their school IDs at all times, Vaughn added.By Mary Owen, Tribune reporter