City Council Looks At The Cost to Combat Crime In Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C.–“Really what it boils down to is perception, if you see the officers in the community, then you know they are there. Β ThatΒ sends a message that they are there and they are watching,” says Charlotte City Council member Julie Eiselt.
Just this weekend a stabbing and two deadly shootings brought the city to 16 homicides this year — though it is down from 23 this time last year.
CMPD Chief Kerr Putney told WCCB Charlotte last week he needs more officers.
“The biggest piece of the puzzle is additional staffing. We need more cops, and more support staff, to go out here and proactively reduce the crime rate,” says Chief Putney.
He wanted 125 additional officers, City Manager Ron Carlee says he worked with the Chief and agreed to 50.
“We need to realize 50 officers doesn’t mean 50 officers on the street at one time,” says Eiselt.
Council member Eiselt says it takes up to 3 officers to cover a 24 hour shift.
“It equates to about 13 officers. We have 13 precincts so that’s 1 officer per precinct at one time, then couple extras, so isn’t a lot of new coverage at all,” says Eiselt.
Council member LaWana Mayfield says Putney can only put 63 officers through training a year and would like to start there.
“I’m pushing to get that number 63 through the full academy, that’s the number we need because years ago we did not fund the officers that we needed,” says Mayfield.
