5 Shocking Facts About The Chicago Police 20th District (Lincoln) You Need To Know In 2025
The Chicago Police 20th District, officially known as the Lincoln District, is a critical hub for public safety on the city's North Side, and its operations are constantly evolving in response to current crime trends and community needs. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the district has been implementing targeted, technology-driven strategies, such as the deployment of new Police Observation Devices (POD cameras) in high-crime areas, alongside a renewed focus on community engagement through its District Strategic Plan. The 20th District, which serves diverse and bustling neighborhoods like Andersonville, Edgewater, and Lincoln Square, remains at the forefront of the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) efforts to balance proactive policing with mandated reform and transparency, making it a focal point for residents concerned about local crime rates and police accountability in the current calendar year.
This deep dive into the 20th District provides the freshest, most critical information available in December 2025, moving beyond general knowledge to detail specific leadership, recent public safety initiatives, and the current state of crime across its diverse patrol beats. From the leadership of Commander Beth Giltmier to the latest CompStat data showing citywide trends in violent crime, understanding the 20th District's strategic priorities is essential for anyone living or working in this vital section of Chicago. It’s a complex environment where neighborhood policing, technology, and community collaboration intersect to define the future of safety.
The 20th District (Lincoln): Leadership and Geography Profile
The 20th District, designated as the "Lincoln District," operates from its main station at 5400 N. Lincoln Avenue. This facility serves as the nerve center for all Bureau of Patrol operations across a significant stretch of Chicago's North Side. The district's official boundaries encompass some of the city's most vibrant and densely populated community areas, each with unique public safety challenges.
Commander Beth Giltmier: At the Helm of the 20th District
The district is currently commanded by Commander Beth Giltmier, who took the reins with a clear vision centered on collaborative, community-focused policing. Commander Giltmier's leadership is integral to implementing the district’s Strategic Plan, which is developed annually based on input from residents during public Community Conversations. Her focus emphasizes working with community members to address local concerns, a key component of the CPD’s modern approach to public safety.
Key Neighborhoods and Geographical Entities
The 20th District covers a wide and diverse area, making its policing strategy inherently complex. The major neighborhoods under its jurisdiction include:
- Andersonville: Known for its vibrant commercial corridor and historic architecture.
- Edgewater: A lakefront community with a mix of high-rise apartments and residential streets.
- Lincoln Square: A culturally rich area centered around its namesake square.
- Uptown: A historically significant area with ongoing development and diverse demographics.
- West Ridge: A largely residential area bordering the northern city limits.
These five neighborhoods, along with major streets like Foster Avenue and the area around Kenmore, form the core of the district's operational landscape. The diversity in housing, commerce, and population density means that crime prevention tactics must be highly localized and flexible.
Current Crime Landscape and 2025 Public Safety Initiatives
The 20th District operates within the broader context of citywide crime trends, which showed significant shifts in late 2024 and early 2025. While the Chicago Police Department reported an overall drop in homicides during the Memorial Day weekend of 2025 compared to the previous year, city data for 2024 indicated a worrying trend: a rise in violent crimes, with aggravated assaults reaching their highest levels in two decades across Chicago. The 20th District’s strategic response reflects these citywide challenges.
The Rise of Technology: POD Cameras and Targeted Policing
A major development in the 20th District's 2025 strategy is the increased reliance on technology to deter crime and assist investigations. Specifically, the district has deployed new Police Observation Devices (POD Cameras) in areas identified as having higher crime rates, such as the 6000 Block of Kenmore.
This initiative, often announced through local aldermanic offices (like the 48th Ward), is a direct effort to establish an increased police presence without solely relying on foot or vehicle patrols. The use of POD cameras is a key component of the district's CompStat-driven approach, which uses data analysis to pinpoint crime hotspots and allocate resources efficiently.
Focus on Specific Crime Categories
In line with citywide efforts, the 20th District often participates in specialized enforcement efforts, such as DUI Saturation Patrols, which are coordinated across the Bureau of Patrol. Furthermore, as Chicago deals with fluctuating rates of domestic violence (which saw a 10% drop in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024), the 20th District's officers are continually trained to handle these sensitive and complex cases in accordance with the Illinois Compiled Statutes. The overall goal is to reduce both violent and non-violent crime, including property crimes which are often a top concern for residents in the affluent neighborhoods of Lincoln Square and Andersonville.
The Community-First Approach: Engagement and Transparency
The 20th District—Lincoln is highly committed to the modern policing mandate of transparency and community involvement. This commitment is formalized through several ongoing programs and organizational structures designed to bridge the gap between residents and law enforcement.
The District Strategic Plan and Community Conversations
Every year, the district develops a District Strategic Plan, a document that outlines the top community engagement priorities and crime-fighting goals for the following calendar year. This plan is not created in a vacuum; it is heavily influenced by Community Conversations—public forums where Chicagoans can participate directly in shaping their district's strategy.
These conversations allow residents of Edgewater, Uptown, and West Ridge to voice concerns about specific beats or crime types, ensuring that the police response is tailored to the actual needs of the area rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The goal is to build long-term trust and collaboration, which is vital for effective policing.
How Residents Can Engage with the 20th District
For residents seeking to get involved or stay informed, the 20th District provides multiple avenues for engagement:
- Beat Meetings: Regular meetings are held for specific patrol beats within the district, offering residents a direct line of communication with the officers patrolling their block.
- Community Engagement Calendar: The CPD maintains a calendar of events and meetings, allowing residents to track upcoming opportunities to meet with police personnel.
- The Station House: The 5400 N. Lincoln Avenue station is a resource for non-emergency inquiries and to connect with the district's Community Policing Office.
The emphasis on these public forums is a direct response to the broader city and national conversation about police accountability, which gained traction after high-profile incidents and subsequent reports by bodies like the Chicago Police Board. For the 20th District, success is increasingly measured not just by crime statistics, but by the strength of its relationship with the community it serves.
Key Entities and Resources in the 20th District
The effectiveness of the 20th District is supported by a network of official and community-based entities. Understanding these resources is key to navigating public safety in the Lincoln District.
- Commander Beth Giltmier: Current District Commander.
- 20th District – Lincoln: The official name of the police district.
- 5400 N. Lincoln Avenue: The official station address.
- Andersonville, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, Uptown, West Ridge: The five primary neighborhoods served.
- POD Cameras: Technological surveillance tools deployed in high-crime areas like Kenmore.
- District Strategic Plan: The annual document guiding the district’s priorities.
- Community Conversations: Public forums for resident input.
- CompStat: The data-driven system used to track and analyze crime statistics.
- Bureau of Patrol: The larger CPD structure the 20th District belongs to.
- Chicago Police Board: The oversight body mentioned in recent CPD news.
- DUI Saturation Patrols: Targeted enforcement campaigns.
- 48th Ward: A key aldermanic ward that frequently interacts with the district.
- Illinois Compiled Statutes: The legal framework for crime classification and enforcement.
- Town Hall District (19th): A neighboring district often involved in coordinated efforts.
- Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling: The head of the CPD, setting department-wide policy.
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