The Watch with Will Kennedy: West Charlotte Citizens Crime Watch
CHARLOTTE, NC — The police supporting the community, and the community supporting the police.
Many residents in CMPD’s Metro Division are saying “enough is enough”. I sat down with the Division Captain, City Councilman Al Austin and State Representative Kelly Alexander to talk about a joint initiative to empower neighborhoods.
“We’re all in,” says Austin. “It is an all-in deal.”
Three community meetings in the last month, each with more than 100 people. The numbers tell the story.
“That tells me that this is not just a passing fancy,” says Rep Alexander. “They want to do something.”
Many people living in historic West Charlotte neighborhoods are tired of the crime, and they are ready to step up and do something about it.
CMPD’s Metro Division is right in the heart of the Beatties Ford corridor. Officers tell us they can’t do it alone. It’s going to take community involvement to get these West Charlotte neighborhoods back on track.
The plan is to create citizens’ crime watch organizations in several areas, using a variety of methods, including a special email (metrocrime@cmpd.org), to inform CMPD of crime in the community.
“The idea is to be able to catch the activity and make it easy for citizens to report,” says Alexander.
“Once you get these groups activated and just really in effect,” says Metro Division Captain Jonathan Thomas. “I think people are going to be amazed at the amount of change they’re going to see.”
Organizers are also looking to work with multiple agencies to reach out to those on the wrong side of the law.
“If their lives are spiraling down, how do we stop that spiraling?” asks Councilman Austin. “And we’ve been working with Vilma Leake on the county commission side has been very helpful in trying to make sure let’s bring the services out to the individuals.”
Change is already happening, with the recent closing of long-time trouble spot Club 935 sending a loud and clear message.
“Drug dealing will not be tolerated here,” says Capt. Thomas. “When they let the businesses know, we want good clean businesses that I’m going to shop at, versus places that support criminal activity. That’s when you’re going to see huge changes here.”
CMPD will host a training session for Citizens’ Crime Watch volunteers on Saturday, September 19th. It is from 10am to noon at Reeder Memorial Baptist on Beatties Ford Road.
