CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many of you are already feeling more of a police presence heading into the Democratic National Convention. Many insiders won't discuss security measures, so it's hard to know what's real and what simply feels more secure.
Eyewitness News has seen a lot of motorcycle police running radar near Uptown Charlotte. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it has nothing to do with DNC, but people are noticing.
It looks like more officers are at the airport than usual and that the mood is much more serious. Airport director Jerry Orr wouldn't give specifics, but gave the impression there are changes already.
"We do have additional people that are starting to filter in here and take up station," Orr said.
In Mooresville, people said they've seen Secret Service scoping out the exclusive neighborhood The Point. They wonder if dignitaries, including even the president, may show up there. There don't seem to be any road closures planned there, so it may be just rumor. Secret Service agents and residents won't say. One told WSOC residents are so discreet, "Even if they're staying at my house, I wouldn't tell."
A bike trail near SouthPark runs past a water treatment plant on Tyvola Road. Eyewittness News found a warning on a popular trail website, saying the path will be closed during the DNC and bikers shouldn’t ride under penalty of law. Channel 9 spoke to people who live closest to it. One said she's never seen it closed in her 30 years living there.
Eyewitness News has reported other security changes already in place, including metal detectors at the Government Center and new traffic cameras.