Crime-fighting strategy decreases crime, CMPD says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police in Charlotte said their strategy to flood high-crime hot spots with officers is paying off, and violent crime in those areas has dropped significantly since the program began in late January.

“This past week we were down 70 percent in violent crime in our targeted areas,” said Capt. Jackie Bryley, who oversees the North Tryon Division.

Operation Avalanche kicked off in that division.

The task force draws officers from other parts of the city and puts them on the street in those high-crime areas, concentrating most heavily on the Sugar Creek Road corridor near Interstate 85.

Bryley said the 70 percent drop in violent crime last week comes after drops of 75 and close to 80 percent in previous weeks.

Residents in the area say they have noticed the change.

“It feels a little safer. It feels like they really care now,” Laura Perez who lives in a motel along Sugar Creek Road, said.

She lives with Tonya Thomas.

“Yeah, it's a big difference, because it used to be kind of wild over here,” Thomas said.

Bryley said police will monitor the program from week to week, but have no plans to abandon it now.

“As long as the work and the output is something we see as positive for the community we're going to continue to work on it,” she said.

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