CMPD released new numbers showing citywide decrease in crime, but Uptown sees violent crime increase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – New data from CMPD says overall crime in the Queen City is down 8% in the first nine months of the year including a 20% decline in violent crimes.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to really go after the individuals that are creating a large amount of these incidents in our area. So our goal is to try to make sure that we put the right people in the right places,” Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Bryley said.

In Uptown, violent crime like homicides, robberies, assaults with deadly weapons and shootings into occupied property are up. Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles who is running for her fifth term in office formed a task force to brainstorm solutions earlier this year.

Recommendations from the task force included launching the Entertainment District Unit to patrol uptown. In 11 days, officers arrested 16 people, seized six firearms and 284 grams of narcotics.

“People do not feel safe right now and we have been have the challenge to think about how do we do something different,” Mayor Vi Lyles said.

Lyles’ Republican challenger Terrie Donovan says public safety pushed her into politics.

“We’ve got to fully fund CMPD, increase the budget for CMPD so that they can retain, recruit and, you know, retention for the best officers that there are,” Donovan said.

She says on the campaign trail, Uptown residents and business owners tell her about the impacts of crime.

“They’re having an issue with employees feeling safe walking to work. There’s a lot of people complaining right now and they don’t feel heard,” Donovan said.

Donovan, Lyles and CMPD all agree there needs to be a focus on repeat offenders. CMPD says more than 60% of violent criminal arrests involved individuals with a prior arrest.

“We have to do a deeper dive and see what’s best for some of these repeat offenders. Eventually the conversations will have to extend to the judges and the sentences that they’re receiving,” Deputy Chief Bryley said.

CMPD says citizens are critical in the plan to decrease crime. They asked residents to register their cameras with Connect Charlotte to allow the police department to use your personal cameras as a tool.