Police-Community Relations

Strong relationships of mutual trust between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and the communities they serve are critical to maintaining public safety and effective policing. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations works closely with CMPD to bridge the gaps and open lines of communication, trust and understanding between the officers and the community.

CMPD Drone Explorers Program

The CMPD Drone Explorers Program is a partnership with Drone Scape that will introduce students to the world of drones and aviation. Student will have the opportunity to learn about serveral general topics related to careers, technonlgy, history, aviation law and regulations, airspace and meteorology, pre- and post-flight operation, piloting skill and safety. Students will learn and practice their skills with programming and flying EDU Tello Drones in an indoor and outdoor space through different obstacle courses.

To learn more and register for CMPD Drone Explorers Program please visit Drone Exploring Program

CMPD Law Enforcement Explorers Prgram (Middle & High School Students)

Exploring is a worksite-based program in which young Middle & High School Students learn about particular careers in which they have an interest. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department sponsors multiple Exploring Posts that provide teens with the opportunities to learn about the law enforcement profession, and make informed decisions about possible future careers.

The Police Exploring program introduces students to the world of law enforcement at the local, state, and national levels. Explorers are trained in several aspects of police work and have the opportunities to compete with other posts in state, region, and national conferences. We also offer students the opportunity to participate in the Ride-Along Program, which allows the Explorers to ride in the patrol car with an experienced officer on the job. Two academies are offered every year by our department, and by the North Carolina Association of Law Enforcement Explorers (NCALEEA) as opportunities for Explorers to experience abbreviated versions of an actual police academy.

To lean more and register for CMPD Law Enforcement Explorers Program please visit CMPD Middle School Club & High School Post Explore Prgram

CMPD Robotics Explorers Program (Middle School Students)

The CMPD Middle School Robotics Explorers Program has partner with Queen City Robotics Alliance and FIRST Tech Challenge to create a program that will foster a future pathway and direction for middle school students in different STEM careers.

The students are challenged to design, build, program, and operate a robot to compete in different competition at regional, state, and national levels. Students will develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and teamwork.

To learn more and register for CMPD Robotice Explorers Program please visit CMPD RoboCop!

CMPD is constantly evolving its practices and standards to better serve the community. To help streamline access to the latest CMPD information, the CRC Police-Community Relations Subcommittee is working to ensure that this webpage stays updated and is an additional resource for the community. The links provided are current efforts and recent policy changes that demonstrate CMPD’s commitment to residents and their safety.

• 2021 Q3 Public Safety Report
  

• Safe Charlotte (Administrative Policy and Procedures)
  

• End of Year 2020 CMPD Report
  

• CMPD Response to 8 Can’t Wait and Policy Revisions
  

• CMPD Response to Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Recommendations
  

The City of Charlotte has solidified and implemented public safety policy improvements developed through conversations with residents and community leaders. City leaders and staff understand that a safer Charlotte goes beyond changes to policing and public safety. It means tackling systemic issues to ensure a community of equity and opportunity. Taking a holistic approach, we have rolled up our sleeves to address such intertwined factors as unemployment, housing, transportation and workforce development.

Among the improvements now in progress, we are: empowering more non-uniformed civilians and providing additional community resources for success.

Change does not happen overnight. But in the course of a year, we have seen meaningful and sustainable improvements in action, with more to come in the year ahead.

In the first year of SAFE Charlotte, the city has:

• Hired civilian violence interrupters to stop violence before it starts in the Beatties Ford Road community.
  

• Provided support for community organizations by granting nearly $1 million to grassroots organizations to provide job training, youth services and other support.
  

• Opened the first de-escalation training facility to provide officers with the training and communication skills they need to reduce volatile circumstances.
  

• Improved Language Access by providing Spanish-language press conferences to build and foster relationships with immigrants and residents with limited English.
  

Key next steps include:

• Granting $1 million to grassroots community organizations in 2022.
  

• Expanding crisis response teams and develop a non-sworn officer responder model for mental health and homeless calls.
  

• Adding civilian positions to support CMPD youth programs.
  

• Adding civilian positions to develop and improve CMPD officer training programs.
  

Law enforcement reforms and violence interruption programs are only part of the solution to creating a safer Charlotte. The City of Charlotte’s all-in approach also focuses on helping residents thrive because of improved opportunities for affordable housing, jobs, and safe, reliable transportation.

Community Relations' community coordinators support the activities of CMPD, maintain contact with special interest and community groups, identify community needs and provide resources to meet those needs. They also work with officers to provide conflict resolution and de-escalation services to youth in schools across the community. Please visit Community Affairs to learn more or to connect with the community coordinators.

Established in 1979, this awards program promotes and expresses the community's appreciation to police officers who have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of police-community relations. Each year, officers are recognized for their advanced creative solutions to neighborhood problems; for demonstrating extraordinary efforts in the area of crime prevention; and for their involvement in helping neighborhoods handle special needs. Please vist Police-Community Relations Awards to learn more