CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament has been running all week, but Friday night is when the big crowds and huge parties are expected to kick off in uptown Charlotte.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials said Friday the department is ready and said everyone should expect to see a larger police presence across the Charlotte area.
Police were on several corners in uptown and that only has ramped up as the hours have gone by.
CMPD said the plan for the weekend is similar to other extraordinary events. All the parties and events are expected to bring an estimated 200,000 people to Charlotte.
Police said the CIAA tournament doesn't have a history of trouble in Charlotte and they want to keep it that way.
"We put officers on foot, bicycles, motorcycles; we put officers up in the command center to watch cameras. We have a layered approach," said Maj. J.W. Estes.
Officials said they have adjusted and shifted manpower so that every part of the department is fully operational.
WSOC
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