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CMPD listens to community concerns about policing, crime over coffee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Keith Scott was killed a little more than a year ago, it happened less than 5 miles from a Dunkin' Donuts on North Tryon. Tensions are still running high, so police stopped there Wednesday to do something about it.

Neighbors like Yasmin Sanchez weren't prepared to run into police officers on her morning coffee run. She shared her fears about police with officers in the shop.

Sanchez said many people in the Latino community are so fearful of police that they refuse to call them for help -- even when they’re victims of a crime. Police listened to Sanchez’s concerns and conveyed that they aren’t immigration officials.

"We are scared and I think something like this opens the doors for all the Hispanic community to come out here and confront their fears," Sanchez said.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is trying to remind these neighbors that they’re trying to protect the community from crime, and not patrolling to find people to deport.

"There's that underlying fear of police like, 'They're going to deport us' and that's not true,” officer Mike Doan said. “We have nothing to do with immigration. We're here to protect and serve the community."

CMPD officers told Channel 9 that casual events like the one that took place Wednesday help build community relations, but there is still progress to be made.

“I think slowly it is improving, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Doan said. “I think with this approach we can make it happen.”

Concerns about the rising number of homicides was also discussed with officers over coffee. Out of the 70 homicides that have taken place in 2017, 12 of them have happened in the North Tryon area.

CMPD hopes building trust with neighbors will eventually help curb the violence.