CMPD focuses on crime hotspots by expanding 'Operation Avalanche'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is frustrated the city has seen 28 homicides this year, a much higher rate than last year. Police said their newest strategy to fight violent crime in hot spots is working.

Police announced Wednesday they're expanding Operation Avalanche to cover areas near Sharon Amity Road, Central Avenue and Farm Pond Road.

CMPD just wrapped up their 11th week of Operation Avalanche. The plan allows officers to create artificial boundaries around the hottest crime spots. Officers said they've seen an 86 percent drop in violent crime, and that means fewer victims suffering in the community.

"We are impacting people out there with ill purpose who have a propensity to commit violent offenses," Maj. Mike Smathers said.

Officers have focused the bulk of their attention in the North Tryon Division along Sugar Creek Road.

They would typically see 465 violent crimes during the same 11 week period based on a three-year average.

This year they've had 67 violent crimes.

"That's 398 fewer violent crime victims," Smathers said.

That's crucial for community organizations like Mothers of Murdered Offspring.

"We feel like, 'Oh my goodness it's happening every day,'" Lisa Crawford, group administrator, said about the amount of homicides this year.

Police said part of cutting down on overall crime is to catch the repeat offenders and people most likely to escalate violence.

Within the last 11 weeks, police said they've made 234 arrests in four hotspots. The majority of the arrests, 74 percent, have been for felony crimes.

Cox Media Group