2023 3rd Quarter Public Safety Briefing
Published on October 19, 2023
Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, October 19, 2023) – Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released its 3rd Quarter Public Safety Report highlighting a continued decrease in violent crime year-to-date in 2023, as the department hits new highs in hiring and recruitment.
Overall, violent crime is down 5% with declines in major categories including homicides (down 19%), robberies (down 11%) and aggravated assaults (down 2%). Reducing violent crime is the CMPD’s and Chief Johnny Jennings’ top priority. The reduction in violent crime reflects the successes of the immense resources and proactive strategies implemented throughout the year as well as the daily hard work of our patrol officers and command staff. Specialized units like the Crime Gun Suppression Team (CGST) and Crime Reduction Units (CRU’s) conduct daily operations to identify and target crime, make arrests, seize illegal weapons and work with our community partners to prevent crime.
For example, this past June, a woman was robbed in her home at gun point during a home invasion. Detectives spent two months analyzing evidence and conducting surveillance before identifying the main suspect and issuing warrants. The Crime Gun Suppression Team identified the suspect as Irvin Velazquez. Upon arrest, CMPD seized 9 firearms, including 1 stolen handgun, as well as a stolen Audi. Velazquez was charged with first degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. This case is documented in the incident report numbers: 20230620-0244-01 & 20230829-0954-00.
Sworn and civilian recruitment is also a top priority in 2023, as we continue to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city. While nationwide, police departments are seeing reductions in applications and hiring, the CMPD is getting ready to welcome its largest ever recruit class with 82 initial members of Class 196. Overall hiring within the CMPD has increased by 22% between 2022 & 2023. Total applications have increased by 18% year-to-date.
The gains in hiring will help the CMPD continue to provide excellent and timely service to Charlotte residents. In 2023, citizen-initiated patrol responses have increased by 2%. Proactive ‘zone checks’ are up 4%. Zone checks allow officers to station in specific areas to provide a presence and deter criminal activity.
While overall violent crime has dropped in 2023, shootings have risen slightly by 2% with shootings involving juvenile suspects rising by 32%. One example highlighting the quick work by officers and detectives, occurred after a shooting on St. Johns Church Road in the North Tryon Division. Twenty-five rounds were collected on scene. A victim’s vehicle was fired into from another vehicle with the victim hit by shrapnel. Through the investigation, detectives identified the 17-year-old suspect who fired the shots, along with another 17-year-old suspect who was in the back seat and who had cut off an ankle monitor shortly afterwards. On top of making the arrests, detectives seized two AR-15 assault rifles and a stolen Glock handgun with an extended magazine. This case is documented in the incident report number: 20230923-0202-02.
The rise in shootings involving our youth is disturbing to the CMPD but should also be disturbing to all Charlotte residents. The CMPD cannot simply “arrest its way” out of this issue. The department is dedicated to community-based solutions including providing more than two dozen youth programs through the Community Engagement Division. The CMPD urges families to take advantage of these mentoring programs to encourage and lead our youth along the right path.
Overall crime in 2023 has risen by 11% due to a continued spike in property crime (up 14%) and more specifically due to the rise in auto thefts (up 125%). CMPD division staff, detectives and patrol officers have worked diligently to address the rise in auto thefts. The CMPD has seen a reduction in the rate of vehicle thefts in the third quarter from a 143% increase reported in mid-July. The main contributor to vehicle thefts remains the Hyundai-Kia social media “challenge”. Hyundai and Kia vehicles continue to be targeted at an alarming rate (up 843%) with juveniles committing most of these thefts (70% of total auto theft arrests). The CMPD urges vehicle owners to take precautions including:
- Purchase a steering wheel lock
- Lock your doors and store your valuables
- Park in well-lit areas or areas with surveillance
Steering wheel locks may also be available for free at any CMPD division office, depending on supply.
Last month, the CMPD announced the results of the ongoing Stolen Car and Recovery Law Enforcement Team (SCARLET) Operation to combat a rise in luxury car thefts. The department is proud to announce the latest results of the operation including more than 150 stolen vehicles recovered, 91 firearms seized and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs seized. The successful operation remains active and ongoing around the city of Charlotte.
The following statistical breakdown below provides an overall snapshot of crime (YTD) in 2023 compared to 2022:
- Violent crimes: 5,329 offenses in 2023 compared to 5,579 offenses in 2022.
- Homicides: 69 in 2023 compared to 85 in 2022.
- Rapes: 185 in 2023 compared to 217 in 2022.
- Armed robberies: 995 in 2023 compared to 1,114 in 2022.
- Property crimes: 27,842 offenses in 2023 compared to 24,378 in 2022.
- Residential burglaries: 1,464 in 2023 compared to 1,613 in 2022.
- Commercial burglaries: 1,569 in 2023 compared to 1,610 in 2022.
- Larcenies from automobiles: 8,291 in 2023 compared to 7,812 in 2022.
- Vehicle thefts: 5,824 in 2023 compared to 2,594 in 2022.
- Arsons: 106 in 2023 compared to 118 in 2022.
To review graphics from our 3rd Quarter Media Briefing: https://cmpd.pica9.com/cd/boards/show/hash/59f470db-0a65-3be8-47b9-4a818a6077b5
To view the full press conference:
###