CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte is getting ready to roll out two new plans aimed at keeping our city safe and helping the fight to get violence under control.
It is one of the city’s top priorities as Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have responded to 55 homicides in the first half of the year.
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The new plan has been in the works for months and is set to launch in the fall.
“I think what we have to do is identify where the problems are occurring from,” City Councilman Malcolm Graham said.
Graham said helping police address the violence and reimagining their role in the community can happen at the same time.
Beatties Ford Road and Lasalle is one of four crime hot spots the city identified in January.
A few weeks ago, the city experienced a mass shooting in the Beatties Ford area during a block party, where four people died and several others were shot or hit by cars running to safety.
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The other priority areas include West Sugar Creek at Interstate 85, Nations Ford and Arrowood as well as Central Avenue and Sharon Amity.
The first program is outreach on the streets to stop violence. It will focus on the Beatties Ford Road and I-85 and West Sugar Creek neighborhoods.
Workers will focus on people who could get involved with crime and offer conflict mediation, case management and mentoring.
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The second program the city will roll out is “hospital-based.” It will engage victims of violence who are in the hospital during their recovery and will focus on assessing them, getting counseling and support socially, with the hope it won’t happen again.
“The concept here is to get the community engagement, to understand the needs before we just start deploying funds,” City Manager Marcus Jones said. “We believe that by having a higher concentration in these areas will give us a quicker benefit.”
During Monday night’s city council meting, some members said they want the programs to start now. The city manager said it is possible the programs could launch earlier than the fall if the right things fall into place.
Councilman Ed Driggs said they should not defund the police department that has been struggling to keep the city safe.
“It’s very difficult for the police to function under those conditions,” Driggs said. “I want us to focus on the law enforcement aspect of it and address the social issues elsewhere.
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