CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Community leaders are reacting after new findings about the Keith Scott shooting and demonstrations in uptown.
The Police Foundation, which was hired by the city, released a report about current policies at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Now community leaders are weighing in on the report’s recommendations.
Community leaders told NBC Charlotte they agree with a lot of the report, but they’re also tired of talk, and they want action now.
More than a year after the Keith Scott shooting highlighted a divided city, the new report appears to be helping find some common ground.
“I believe many of the statements in report are founded,” said Corine Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP.
However, Mack said she wants to see more than words on paper. The 100 page report ultimately found CMPD acted appropriately based on current policies, but the report also made recommendations for improving those policies.
“This city was hurt because of that killing, but it’s much bigger than Keith Lamont Scott,” said Mack.
The list of recommendations in the report include better use of social media to push accurate information rather than rumors. The report also recommended that CMPD create policies for releasing body camera video.
“Incidents where officers did not turn on their cameras, or their cameras quote unquote malfunction, there should be some penalty to those officers,” said Mack.
On Tuesday afternoon, local activists took their concerns to the city of Charlotte’s community safety committee.
“We have to be accountable, if not, it’s not a good result for any of us,” said mayor pro-tem Julie Eiselt, chair of the community safety committee.
However, Mack questioned if the report will lead to real change.
“Are the changes something that are concrete or is still more conversation about what we are going to do?,” said Mack.
Mack said she’d like to see several steps taken, including funding for programs to help with police- community relations in Charlotte.