CMPD, Critics Agree: Extraordinary Event “Routine”

CHARLOTTE, NC — The controversial extraordinary event ordinance that gives Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department power to search people in large crowds could soon be a thing of the past.

CMPD Chief Kerr Putney and the City Attorney spoke to city council Monday about the law. Now council must decide whether to repeal the ordinance.

Critics called it a violation of your rights.

“We could call this stop and frisk by another name,” said Ray McKinnon with New South Progressives.

Now, CMPD Chief Putney tells city council it’s time to scale back the use of the extraordinary event.

“Our job is to secure the city and make people safe. So, that will never leave regardless of the outcome,” said Chief Putney. “I just think there’s a better process to get us there.”

The extraordinary event ordinance is used during parades, speed street, aiming to prevent terroristic attacks.

However, when CMPD used it during protests outside the Panthers game after the police shooting of Keith Scott, critics got vocal.

They went to city council, arguing it increases chances of profiling and abuse of power.

“It’s being used with such regularity it should be called the ordinary events ordinance,” said McKinnon.

The city used the tool 14 times in 2016. The city attorney did not have a total count of events in the city in 2016 to compare that number Monday. The city manager is the one who enacts extraordinary events.

The new City Manager, Marcus Jones, asked for answers.

Monday, Chief Putney called the tool routine.

“The usefulness is greatly deteriorated,” said Chief Putney.

Chief Putney told council things have changed since the council enacted the ordinance to monitor

Democratic National Convention crowds in 2012.

“We need to be more open,” said Chief Putney. “We have the opportunity to make it our own and relevant to the current times and ensure safety.”

Critics want one outcome: “Anything short of a full repeal would be met by me, New South Progressives and other folks with a little skepticism,” said McKinnon.

In the next 60 days, the city attorney says he will tweak recommendations. He says he will likely direct council to repeal the ordinance and add prohibited items people can bring to events to existing ordinances.