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Leaders push for community involvement in RNC safety plans

By Elsa Gillis
By Elsa Gillis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In just a few weeks the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will start leading public safety community engagement sessions.

Chief Kerr Putney came together with the Charlotte city safety committee on Wednesday to talk about the need to approach and engage the community on a larger scale about policing, public safety, and community impact from various perspectives.

[RELATED: Will taxpayers be on the hook for 2020 RNC costs?]

"We know the country is divided so we want to do our own work, to get an appreciation of the courage and all the amenities and positive things that we have in our community, we want to engage in a different conversation," said Putney.

CMPD said the meetings are part of their overall community engagement outreach. Conversation topics will range from public safety and police relations to racial equity and inclusion.

[RELATED: Charlotte officials planning for 2020 RNC security]

Officials said the upcoming Republican National Convention will play a role in the conversation.

The goal, according to the committee and CMPD, is to mitigate potential challenges and issues in advance of the RNC with effective community outreach.

"What I've heard from the community is, ‘We like when we can bring out city staff and folks and put people on panels, but is there going to be an interactive portion of it?’ said Council member Justin Harlow.

Putney was clear there will be.

Council members said they want to see the people of Charlotte lead the way for when the RNC is here and for when those crowds leave town.

"We are most concerned about what's going to happen on the ground to our homes and our businesses and our community of Charlotte," Council member Braxton Winston said. "I do think the number one mitigating force that is going to be present is going to be the people of Charlotte."

"It's also important that conversations happen that aren't with CMPD, because it's a very different conversation when two sides of this debate in the community come together with CMPD in the middle versus just on their own," Council member Tariq Bokhari said.

The kickoff event is set for mid-October.  There will be representatives from CMPD, CFD, Medic, CMS, CRC, the sheriff's office and the DA's office.

More events and discussions are in the works.

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