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Leaders want Huntersville police to replace CMPD in unincorporated areas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Leaders in Huntersville hope a new change will help police respond to emergencies faster.

County commissioners voted Tuesday night to allow Huntersville to police the unincorporated areas near town, like Highway 73 near Duke's McGuire station.

Huntersville town leaders said when someone needs help in areas like that, it often takes longer than 15 minutes for Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to arrive.

Even though Huntersville police are stationed much closer, CMPD is paid $3 million to patrol those unincorporated areas. On Tuesday, commissioners agreed to give that money to Huntersville police so they can handle the emergencies instead.

The decision to take action came after Danny Phillips, the town's mayor pro tem, said it took CMPD hours to help his son after a crash on Highway 73.

“When it takes three hours for CMPD to respond to calls, we've got a problem and I think it’s time to turn it over to Huntersville,” Phillips said.

Before anything is finalized, the city of Charlotte has to agree to the changes. If they don't, commissioners said they'll cancel CMPD's multi-million dollar contract to cover all the unincorporated areas in the county.

A senate committee will consider a bill Wednesday that would make similar changes in other parts of Mecklenburg County. It would impact neighborhoods just outside city limits near Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville.

If passed, those city's police departments would be allowed to respond to emergencies nearby so people don't have to wait longer for CMPD.

Senators are still figuring out how the funding would work.

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