Ethan has been an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for 20 years. Currently, Ethan is the Supervisor of the Gun Crime Strategies. In that capacity, Ethan leads a team of Assistant State’s Attorneys and Intelligence Analysts who vertically prosecute the leading drivers of violence in the five most dangerous police districts in Chicago. These districts include the 6th and 7th districts on the city’s south side as well as the 10th, 11th and 15th districts on the city’s west side. The unit prosecutes all manner of felonies from gun charges to vehicular hijackings to murders. Ethan and all of the Gun Crime Strategies Assistant State’s Attorneys are cross-designated as Special Assistant United States Attorneys for the Northern District of Illinois for a joint Federal/State violent crime task force focusing on the most violent districts in Chicago.
Previously, Ethan was a first chair lead prosecutor for ten years in the Cold Case Homicide Unit which later became the Complex Homicide and Gangs Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. In the Cold Case Homicide Unit, Ethan was responsible for coordinating investigations, charging, and prosecuting several high-profile cold case murders. In his career as a prosecutor, Ethan has tried hundreds of cases including seventy-four jury trials. Sixty-three of those juries were felony cases, twenty-five of those felony cases were murder juries. Ethan has tried a total of thirty-three murder cases.
Summary of “Intelligence Driven Prosecutions:”
Recognizing that the problem of gun violence in Chicago was rising to unprecedented levels, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (“CCSAO”) developed a new unit to specifically address this chronic problem. Data revealed that gun violence in Chicago is most prevalent in, although certainly not limited to, a few police districts on the south and west sides of the city. In response, the CCSAO formed the Gun Crime Strategies Unit (“GCSU”) in an effort to address the problem of gun violence in a comprehensively different way. By vertically prosecuting the leading drivers of violence and collaboratively working with our federal, state and local partners, the GCSU is attacking the problem of gun violence in a more focused and effective manner.
The meeting in the Winnetka Community House was opened at 12: 17 by Patti Van Cleave standing in for President Bill Leske. Robert Mardirossian gave an interesting Thought for the Day noting Memorial Day used to be on May 30. He suggested that we reflect on those who served and didn’t return. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Lunch was then served at 12:24.
The meeting resumed at 12:40 and 26 members were present. Greeter Tony Kambich said our Rotarian visitor was Ron Bernardi from Northbrook. A guest was Coleen McGinnis with Liz Taylor. They got a round of warm applause.
ANNIVERSARIES: One year anniversaries were noted for both Laura Cunningham and Bob Sanfillipo
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Marie Kuipers updated us that the June 1 benefit. It should be an unusual event this year as it will be a “Hoedown” complete with a country band. She said very attractive auction items are on hand including a gangbusters raffle group.
Patti reminded us the Winnetka Music Festival is in a very few weeks. Volunteers are needed for the affair.
Rich Lalley reminded us that June 19 is our Installation Dinner so there will be no luncheon the following day. The dinner will be special and include members from Glencoe and Wilmette Rotary clubs. He noted tickets and reservations will be made online with ticket/reservation cost for members $0.
On behalf of the Winnetka Youth Organization, Mary Komlofske told of an upcoming Puppy and Car Wash on June 15 at the Community House.
DIG & GRIN : Mr. Lalley spun out an anecdote that was received with warm applause.
SPEAKER- David Birkenstein introduced our speakers Detective Jeremy Walton and Sgt, Jim Harrison, both from the Winnetka Police Department. Their topic was Identity Theft and Personal Cyber Attacks.
The officers worked in tandem to explain and illustrate a variety of types of “scams” now in play. Several key points noted and reinforced during their talk were:
- never, ever give your SS# to any stranger no matter how legitimate they sound
- be very aware scam artists have several trick to make themselves sound like they are a relative (e.g grandson,nephew/niece) so never ever send money ,but, rather double-check first.
Current cyber scams are mostly updates of age-old phone scams. The officers had several film clips illustrating these. All scams are aimed at gaining a piece of personal information (SS#, password, user name, birth date) to use to bilk the unsuspecting.
They handed out a “Crime Prevention Tips” flier which is also available at The Winnetka Police Department. It has very useful dos and don’ts for all of us.
The meeting closed at 1:26 after the usual lottery drawing and a recitation of the 4-Way pledge.
As the 2018-19 Rotary Year nears its conclusion, please join the millions of beneficiaries of projects funded by The Rotary Foundation in thanking our members who have honored their commitment of Every Rotarian, Every Year, contribute to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Programs Fund.
With a bit over one month to go, our club members have donated a total of $5,616 in the 2018-19 Rotary Year, 40% of our goal this year of $10,000.
Please thank these 18 Rotarians for already making their annual contribution, especially those in bold who are Paul Harris Fellows:
Wes Baumann, Sam Badger*+, Connie Berman, David Birkenstein*+, Rik Boerjesson,David Grant*, Heather Higgins, Tony Kambich, Rich Lalley+, Robert Mardirossian,Rodger Morris*,Lee Padgitt,Fred Schwimmer+ , Heidi Sibert, Peter Skalski, Barb Tubekis, Patty Van Cleave, Carl Yudell * signifies a Major Donor+ signifies Paul Harris Society ($1,000 per year)
There are many reasons to give to the The Rotary Foundation:
Contributions support humanitarian and educational projects initiated and run by Rotary Clubs and Districts in six areas of focus- Disease prevention and treatment, maternal & child health, education & literacy, water and sanitation, economic & community development and peace & conflict resolution. Learn more by reviewing the Foundation’s annual report.
Contributions come back to support projects of our club's projects, like our coats for kids, Kids Against Hunger and International grants projects like our Farm to Table eco-agribusiness project in Ecuador, the water and sanitation projects we helped fund for schools in Guatemala and Kenya, and the digital x-ray/community health clinic project organized by District 6440. This year, we received over $3,500 for our Kids Against Hunger project! But we must give to receive.
Giving to The Rotary Foundation is an easy way for you to participate in Rotary’s service work beyond our club, providing you a personal connection to this great organization and the good it does throughout the world.
It’s easy to give. You can donate with a check or credit card at lunch; you can send a check to “WNRCF” (mark TRF in the memo line) to our club at 620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka; you can donate via PayPal by clicking here, or you can donate directly to The Rotary Foundation at www.rotary.org or by calling 866-976-8279. One very convenient way to give is by making a recurring monthly gift on your credit card or from your checking account, which you can set up on Rotary’s website.
If you have not already supported The Rotary Foundation this year, please do so now.
If you have any questions about The Rotary Foundation or how to give, contact Rich Lalley.
