CMPD crime reduction units restructure priorities during violent year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 rode along with a special police unit Wednesday as they refocus priorities.

The officers were reassigned to help cut down on the increase in murders this year.

"It takes time, yes, sir. It absolutely takes time. It's not solved overnight, unfortunately," Sgt. Chad Shingler said.

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Shingler is in charge of a Crime Reduction Unit in the North Division.

CRUs, historically, operate all over the city and have targeted property crimes like burglaries, but now they have been tasked with a new mission.

"We focus primarily on repeat violent offenders," Shingler said.

The changes are in response to the increase in homicides and violent crimes that are up 13 percent this year.

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CRU officers can go undercover and saturate troubled areas, even conduct traffic stops.

The unit went after a man Tuesday they believed was shooting houses.

"But they didn't have probable cause to make the arrest, but we knew the gentleman had a suspended license," Shingler said.

He was pulled over and arrested for not having a driver’s license and officers found a gun. They turned it in as evidence.

"Now, if that gun is linked to any other violent crimes, the detective will sign out warrants," the sergeant said.

One of the advantages of using this unit is that they can focus on a problem without having to answer other calls.

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The main criteria when the CRUs focus on certain neighborhoods is that there has to be a repeat problem in the same area.

For instance, if a house gets shot up continuously, the unit will increase its presence to send a message.

The trends are not based on a long-term period. It could be a problem that just cropped up in the last 48 hours.

CMPD said it’s already seeing success.

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