Uptown - New Year's Eve

This article can be found on the WSOC TV web site. CMPD is planning a large presence in the center city this New Year's Eve and I would expect the same approach which was employed on July 4, 2007. What does that mean? Well, if you are out having fun and obeying the laws you have no reason to worry. But, if you are out looking to create problems you may want to go somewhere else.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With just a few days left in 2007, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are getting prepared for the New Year’s celebrations in uptown Charlotte.

Because last year’s festivities went smoothly, similar plans are already in place to ensure what is typically a big party night does not get out of control. The CMPD said it will mimic enforcement from last year because it was so successful and add another element.

That element is because this is the first New Year with Charlotte’s light rail line up and running. The CMPD will add security on each train and at each stop.

“We want to make sure (riders) feel safe when they get off the train, especially late at night, that people feel comfortable getting on and off the train,” said Dep. Chief Jerry Sennett.

Officers will also be patrolling the parking lots, and not just trying to prevent robberies and car break-ins. Sennett said they will pay particularly close attention to people who drink uptown and then ride the light rail to their cars and attempt to drive home...

Car Break-ins and Larceny From Auto

On December 21, 2007, the Charlotte Observer published these crime statistics. All of the numbers have shown improvement except in the area car break-ins and larceny from auto. Our Community Officers have been telling us for years to LOCK OUR CAR DOORS and DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN SIGHT IN OUR VEHICLES. Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. Please lock your car doors and don't leave anything that a potential thief will see and steal.

Homicides down by nearly 20%
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released crime statistics for the year through November and compared them to the first 11 months of 2006.

The highlights:

Homicides - There have been 67 homicides as of Thursday night. That's a nearly 20 percent drop from this time last year, when there were 82.

Violent Crimes were down 5.2 percent through November, though property crimes increased 4 percent.

Car break-ins were up 23.3 percent from this period last year, fueling a 14.5 percent increase in the number of larcenies. Vehicle thefts were down from this time last year.

Rapes are down 21.5 percent.

Robberies were down slightly by .02 percent.

November Crime Stats

FIRST WARD

(25) LARCENY FROM AUTO

Of the (25) reported incidents, only (7) occurred in the neighborhood… The rest were reported in the parking lots and parking structures surrounding First Ward. Please continue to do you part by not leaving anything of value in plain sight inside your vehicles.

(11) Non-Aggravated Assaults

All of these were Bar- related except (1) which occurred on 11/21/2007 in the 600 block of N. Alexander St when an angry girlfriend assaulted her boyfriend after an argument over a text message from another woman…..

(7) Auto thefts

All of these vehicle thefts occurred in the neighborhood. (1) Was cleared by arrest after (2) 16 year old girls stole a vehicle from Garden District Drive and was involved in an accident on Monroe Rd. THE KEYS WERE LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. At this time, there is no noticeable pattern of time or vehicle type that might link these incidents…

(3) Residential Burglaries

(1) Incident occurred at 501 N. Alexander St on 11/5/2007 at 10:15am. (2)Black male teens and (1) black female teen kicked in the door entered the home and removed TV equipment. This incident took less than one minute start to finish. A neighbor heard the suspects knocking on doors along the block and then observed them entering the victims’ home shortly after.

(1) Incident occurred at 728 N. Caldwell between 11/14/2007 and 11/15/2007. No one was home when the suspect entered the residence by removing the screen from the kitchen window. While inside the residence, a TV and a radio was removed.

(1) Incident occurred at 530 E. 8th St on 11/22/2007 between 1am and 9am. While the victims were asleep, unknown suspects entered the apartment and removed computer equipment and wallets from the den area without awakening the victims.

THIRD WARD

(7) LARCENY FROM AUTO

(5) VANDALISM

(2) AUTO THEFT

(1) COMMERCIAL BURGLARY

FOURTH WARD

(19) LARCENY FROM AUTO

Of the (19) Larceny from Auto, (2) on scene arrests were made due to the diligence of people in the neighborhood.

(8) AUTO THEFTS

Of the (8) Auto Thefts, (1) Arrest was made

(8) Larceny-Shoplifting

Of the (8) Shoplifting, (4) Arrests were made due to the quick actions of the store employees and the quick response of the Officers in the neighborhood.

(4) Armed Robbery

(1) Incident occurred on 11/13/2007 at 8pm at the FOURTH WARD MARKET located on N. Graham St. (2) Black males wearing masks and carrying guns entered the store and took $300 from the store register and then $60 from the store clerks’ wallet.

(1) Incident occurred on 11/16/2007 at 4am at the Dunkin Doughnuts shop on N. Graham St. A store Clerk and his wife were robbed by a black male while they were cleaning up.

(1) Incident occurred on 11/17/2007 at 7pm in the 400 block of W.5th St. A black male carrying a gun attempted to rob (4) people but was unsuccessful. While he was attempting to flee the scene, he was apprehended due to the quick thinking of the victims and the fast response of the Officers.

(1) Incident occurred on 11/22/2007 at 6am in the 100 block of N. Cedar St. The newspaper delivery man was approached and robbed of $75 by a black male riding a
Bicycle.

CMPD Seeking Additional Witnesses in Disappearance of Kyle Fleischmann

CMPD's Missing Persons Detectives are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the witnesses seen in this video taken from the Buckhead Saloon (201 East 5th Street) around closing time (2:00-2:30 a.m.), November 9, 2007. Exterior Buckhead Saloon video.

If you are one of these people or you know who one of them may be please contact Detective Tuttle at 704-336-3949. Detectives still need to talk to these people in hopes that they may have some information that will aid the investigation.


CMPD's Missing Persons detectives are asking anyone who was in or near the Buckhead Saloon (201 East 5th Street) around closing time (2:00-2:30 a.m.), November 9, 2007, to contact them.

Kyle Fleischmann, 24, was reported missing Friday, November 9, 2007, after leaving the center city bar around this time. Detectives are speaking to everyone they have been able to identify, including friends, employees of the Saloon and patrons.

After reviewing countless hours of videotape from the cameras around the Saloon, detectives have culled out images of other people they have yet to talk with, and are releasing this footage (the link is below) in hopes the people featured can be identified and will come forward. "Since these people left the Saloon at the same time Kyle did, maybe they saw something," says Missing Persons Detective Lee Tuttle. "We need to talk with anyone who was there around that time.

If you recognize any of the people in this video please contact Detective Tuttle at 704.336.3949. Interior Buckhead Saloon video.

cmpd.org

CMPD 2006 Internal Affairs Report Now Available

The 2006 Internal Affairs Annual Report provides data and analysis of a wide range of variables that address CMPD employees' conduct and performance. The data is trending positively across most categories. Significant findings include:

• Citizen-filed complaints declined by 28% in 2006 compared to 2005
• The overall rate of Use of Force incidents declined by 7%
• The report includes a breakdown of Use of Force incidents by subject race and rate of arrest
• Data maps included in the report display Use of Force incidents in comparison to violent crime areas
• Police Pursuits increased by 61% (28 in 2005 vs. 45 in 2006) in 2006. Officers initiated a majority of the pursuits in an attempt to apprehend robbery suspects
• Preventable employee-involved motor vehicle collisions declined by 2% in 2006 compared to 2005

Read the 2006 Annual Report and visit Internal Affairs for additional information.

cmpd.org

Center City Neighborhood Forum

What: Center City Neighborhood Forum

When: Thursday, December 13, 2007. 7:00pm

Where: Main Library Auditorium (basement level)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of CMS

Other Speakers: Michael Smith from CCCP, CMPD, CDOT, Park It, City Services, Duke Power, Code Enforcement

Why: To discuss livability in Center City; focus is public education opportunities for Center City families

Charlotte's Center City is a strong and diverse neighborhood. As the Center City population continues to grow, and more families begin to call the Center City home, education, open space, public safety and a sense of community become more important to our residents each and every day.

Families in the Center City want to be recognized by CMS as more than a collection of businesses and fragmented condo projects. This is a cohesive neighborhood with a vested interest in quality public schools. This meeting is an opportunity for residents to meet and dialogue with Superintendent Gorman.

Representatives from city departments and organizations that contribute to center city livability will also present their priorities for 2008 and give residents a chance to be heard.

Charlotte Center City Partners

Project Blue Light to Honor Officers

From Dec. 1 – 31, blue lights will illuminate the Police Memorial on East Trade Street, across from Police Department headquarters, in observance of Project Blue Light, an annual recognition of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Residents and businesses are urged to observe this tradition by including at least one blue light in holiday decorations. In addition to honoring law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty, a blue light will show support and appreciation of all law enforcement officers who are working 24/7 to make Charlotte-Mecklenburg a safe community.

Project Blue Light began in Philadelphia, PA , in 1988, when Mrs. Dolly Craig wrote a letter to COPS stating that she would be honoring her late son-in-law, Philadelphia Police Officer Dan Gleason, by placing a blue light in her window. Officer Gleason was killed in 1986.

Since 1892, thirty-three (33) law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

cmpd.org