Gunshots were heard at about 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the 5200 block of West Pensacola Avenue in Portage Park, at about the same time a stolen vehicle was read story
Mulligan Ave. dedication honors memory of ‘Topper,’ a police officer who also worked at Taft HS

by BRIAN NADIG
Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) held a honorary street dedication last month in the 4500 block of North Mulligan Avenue in memory of Ronald C. “Topper” Topczewski, who was the former president emeritus of the Polish American Police Association.
Mr. Topczewski, an army veteran who died at age 84 in 2023, worked for 32 years as a Chicago police officer and then worked for about 20 years as a security guard at Taft High School.
He attended Holy Trinity grade school and then Holy Trinity High School, where he played basketball and other sports.
“Ronald never missed a chance to play organized basketball in leagues through the city or within the department. Ronald was old school in that he played handball for 30 years, every Tuesday and Friday on top of playing in two to three basketball games a week.
“In addition he always found time to be the coach for (his sons) Bryan and Charlie’s basketball teams at Saint Roberts and Norwood Park,” stated his biography on the Skaja Funeral Home Web site.
The “Ronald ‘Topper’ Topczewski honorary way” street sign hangs at the Mulligan-Sunnyside intersection in the Dunham Park area neighborhood.

- Gunshots, stolen vehicle reported in Portage Park near Pensacola & Laramie on Chicago’s NW Side
Gunshots were heard at about 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the 5200 block of West Pensacola Avenue in Portage Park, at about the same time a stolen vehicle was being driven on the block, according to Chicago police. A resident reported that a black Infiniti sport utility vehicle was being driven on the block - Burglars hit dozen businesses in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Avondale early Wednesday
by BRIAN NADIG About a dozen smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson Park) and 17th (Albany Park) police districts, and there were additional break-ins in other parts of the city and suburbs, totaling about 20 incidents, according - Burglars hit at least 9 businesses in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park, Portage Park early Wednesday
by BRIAN NADIG At least nine smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson Park) Police District, and there apparently were additional break-ins in at least two other districts and possibly the suburbs, according to Chicago police. The incidents - CTA targets fare evaders to reduce violent crime; disappointment expressed in release of suspected shooter at Jefferson Park terminal
by BRIAN NADIG Violent offenses reportedly are down 34 percent on the CTA from a year ago as the agency targets a section of the Red Line where criminals are boarding, while a shootout at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal last summer remains under investigation. CTA security vice president Kevin Ryan addressed many crime and - Crime Watch: gunfire reported on Berteau, car break-ins reported, robbery reported in store lot
Two men reported that a man fired shots at them at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the 5300 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. A 25-year-old man reported that he was talking to a neighbor, who was sitting inside his parked vehicle, and two men walked toward the vehicle and one of them fired
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by BRIAN NADIG About a dozen smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
by BRIAN NADIG At least nine smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
by BRIAN NADIG Violent offenses reportedly are down 34 percent on the CTA from a year ago as the agency targets a section of the Red Line where criminals are read story
Two men reported that a man fired shots at them at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the 5300 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. A 25-year-old man reported that read story
The second annual “Sip and Shop” in “Jeff West” will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, running along Lawrence Avenue from Austin Avenue on the west and Major Avenue read story
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