Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $700,000)
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is a local law enforcement agency, comprised of 1,982 officers and 475 civilians employees, dedicated to providing problem-oriented, data-driven, and evidence-based practices that improves its service delivery to the 951,287 residents of the City of Charlotte and unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County. The primary mission of the CMPD is to protect lives and enforce North Carolina State Law. The identification of firearm related violent offenders aligns with the CMPD’s mission and is critical to protecting lives.
The CMPD’s jurisdiction has experienced a significant increase in population growth in the last five years. They have also experienced a significant increase in firearm related violent crime. According to the CMPD’s Firearm Related Violent Crime Statistics, in 2018-2020 firearm related violent crime increased in the following categories: assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into occupied property, violent crime non-fatal gunshot incidents, violent crime non-fatal gunshot victims, and homicide fatal gunshot victims.
To address the increase in firearm related violent crime, the CMPD seeks $700,000 in funds to establish a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) by accomplishing the following goals 1) Establishing a Collaborative Working Group by partnering with ATF and representatives from additional law enforcement agencies 2) Enhancing the CMPD’s Firearm Taskforce by adding a Crime Laboratory Technician, Data Analytics Specialist, and Management Analyst to enhance investigations and providing the ability for the Taskforce to operate efficiently 3) Establishing a Crime Gun Intelligence Center Business Model to ensure the effective delivery and processing of firearms and fired evidence to the Crime Lab 4) Effectively Investigating Firearm Related Violent Crime by designating a Crime Laboratory Technician to support the NIBIN Program 5) Establishing a Comprehensive Training Program to effectively implement the CGIC 6) Establishing a Violent Crime Prevention Strategy by informing the community of NIBIN related success stories through media releases 7) Establishing an Improved Response to Gun Shots Fired by identifying patterns and trends related to violent firearm related crime 8) Effectively Prosecuting Cases Involving Firearm Related Violent Crime by partnering with Mecklenburg County DA’s Office to review and prepare cases for prosecution 9) Completing a Final Analysis Report by partnering with an academic organization as a subrecipient to evaluate the CGIC’s effectiveness. Accomplishing these goals will allow the CMPD’s CGIC to use intelligence, technology, and community engagement to quickly identify unlawfully used firearms and their sources, effectively prosecute perpetrators engaged in violent crime, and develop a safer Charlotte- Mecklenburg community.