The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has sworn in 31 new police officers to serve and protect the community.
“I hope I can leave a mark and have a positive influence,” Officer Chris Harrington said.
He was one of the 31 new police officers to join the Charlotte police force Friday.
Charlotte has continued to see a rise in crime, particularly violent crime and Chief Kerr Putney has been pushing for more officers on the streets.
"If we had twice as many, I'd feel twice as good," Putney said.
Putney has been pushing for additional officers since he took the job a year ago, and the City Council has answered by giving him the money to hire 63 more officers over the next few years.
The city's latest homicide Thursday night on Effingham and Tuckaseegee roads is just the latest example of why these officers are needed out in the Charlotte community.
"There was glass all over in front of our house and in our driveway," said Gwendolyn Johnson, who runs an after-school program less than two blocks from that shooting.
Johnson has been pushing for more officers for a long time.
"I hope I can get half of those 31 over here to work because I don't see a police officer until I call one and I don't like that," Johnson said.
Cox Media Group
