POLICE REFORM: CMPD won’t use chemical agents at protests, no-knock warrants

CHARLOTTE — Channel 9 9 has learned that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will stop using chemical agents and no-knock warrants, which is a major shift in its policies.

Tear gas was used during a protest in uptown over the summer, which led to a sergeant’s suspension and a lawsuit.

The Safe Neighborhoods Committee is trying to reform policing in Charlotte, so Chief Johnny Jennings' decision also showed the committee that he is open to making big changes.

“That’s already in effect,” Jennings said about the change in no-knock warrants. “I signed off on that policy yesterday, and it has been sent out for our officers as well.”

Jennings also said, “We have pulled the chemical agent when it comes to riot control and dispersal of crowds, that we will no longer be using C.S. That policy is being written right now.”

@CMPD will get rid chemical agents (CS Gas). It will still use irritants like OC spray. They have also ended the policy of utilizing no-knock warrants.
— Braxton Winston (@BraxtonWinston) September 29, 2020

Councilman Larken Egleston, who chairs the committee, commended the chief for taking action on his own without the City Council having to force his hand. He said he is encouraged to move forward.

“To me, it tells me, ‘We got the right guy at the helm here,’” Egleston said. “It tells me, ‘We’ve got a chief who wants to be a part of the solution, wants to work with the community and with the council.’”

The committee, which is made up of city leaders, community leaders, residents and activists, has looked at policing in Charlotte for three months.

They came up with recommendations, such as expanding resources for mental health emergencies, an external audit of CMPD’s budget and an assessment of the department’s community outreach programs.

“There’s going to be, I believe, a way that we’re going to be identifying the workload on these officers that really could be reprioritized to the other agencies, other responders, and allow the police to do what we really want them doing,” Larken said.

The recommendations will be discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting.