CMPD Walking Beats in Popular Neighborhoods

CHARLOTTE, NC — Areas like NODA and Plaza Midwood are growing rapidly, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are expanding their presence in these neighborhoods.

After a series of high profile crimes, residents and business owners are applauding a pilot program that will have officers walking a beat through popular entertainment areas.

“There have been a few high profile incidents in and around the commercial district here in the last year or so,” says David Hale with the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association

Those incidents in and around Plaza Midwood include the still unsolved murder of 26-year-old Ketie Jones. She was shot and killed walking home near Central Avenue and The Plaza after a night out last October.

As neighborhoods like The Plaza and NODA attract more residents, and more people come in to take advantage of all the food and entertainment options, CMPD is starting a new pilot program to provide more police presence.

“Three officers who will be in the Plaza Midwood area during business hours and throughout the evening,” says CMPD Lt. Luke Sell with the Eastover Division. “Usually finish up around 4:00 a.m.”

Those officers are going to be walking, and riding, these beats in Plaza Midwood, and over in NODA, Wednesday through Saturday nights through the summer months.

“When you bring more people there’s a higher risk of things that can go wrong,” says Hale. “And so, as a neighborhood association, we’ve advocated for a program like this for a while.”

“We do an off-duty police program every Friday and Saturday night already,” says Common Market’s Blake Barnes. “But that doesn’t start until 11:00. And it would never fail that something weird would happen at 6:30. Having police in uniform walking around can only help that problem.”

CMPD says this program will allow officers to know the neighborhood better, and have a better feel for the residents and visitors.

The walking beats will focus on the entertainment areas. And while police are aware of the recent high profile crimes in these high traffic areas.

“I don’t think it’s in response to that,” says Lt. Sell. “I think what we’ve done is we’ve looked at this, we started talking about this last fall. It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

The walking beat could expand to five officers if needed. CMPD plans to run this pilot program through the summer, and then reassess in the fall.