CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council voted to accept a grant Monday night in the amount of $612, 922 from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund the Community Oriented Police Services anti-gang initiative, managed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Charlotte has seen 60 homicides this year, some of which are gang-related, authorities said.
The federal grant will allow CMPD to target gang violence with more money for detective overtime, training, new crime-fighting equipment and software.
Gang Alternative Principles, or GAP, works to reach youth before gangs do.
They said this federal grant will give them the financial boost they need to expand their outreach to the summer months, especially to mentor girls.
For the first time, police said girls are becoming more involved in gangs.
The grant money is temporary and city leaders said it will be hard to replace that money in the budget once the grant runs out.
Councilwoman Julie Eislet said city council has some tough decisions ahead.
"Whatever we do in this community to provide economic opportunity is going to be wasted frankly if Charlotte is perceived as a dangerous place to live," Eislet said.
CMPD chief Kerr Putney has called for more money to put additional officers on the streets and resources for investigations as well.
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