Charlotte police view improved communication and understanding as one way to minimize misunderstandings when police are doing their jobs. | Shutterstock
Charlotte police view improved communication and understanding as one way to minimize misunderstandings when police are doing their jobs. | Shutterstock
The Charlotte Metro Police Department has had its share of challenging times over the past couple of years, especially after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Now, it is working to improve the relationship between the police and the Black community in hopes to prevent incidents in the Queen City.
“We’re not trying to have conversations after something happens,” police Capt. Lucas Bieth told WBTV. The goal, rather, is to head off problems at the pass.
Last week, a special town hall meeting dubbed Cops & Barbers brought Black men from the area together with law enforcement officials, giving them a chance to air their thoughts on the matter. They had the discussion over haircuts.
Among the points raised: the best hiring and training practices for police officers, availability of mental health services and ways to counter youth violence.
“This was a most impactful event for the kids,” Duvale Murchison, president-elect of 100 Men of Charlotte, said of the meeting. “I mean they had the District Attorney here. They had a chief of police from Matthews here. They had a captain from CMPD.”
Bieth said, “You know one person’s children is like my children. What would I want for them? I would want the best, safest world with the most opportunities and shame on us if we can’t do anything and everything, we can to try to take care of them.”
While no one expects overnight solutions to the problem, the station reported that programs like Cops & Barbers will at least provide a foundation for building trusting relationship.
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