CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte’s growth is sparking questions about how fast police respond to your 911 call.
In an emergency, the goal is for police divisions to respond in seven minutes or less.
The Defenders team is learning that nearly 40 percent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department divisions are not meeting the goal.
NBC Charlotte learned some of the slowest response times are happening north of the city. Police say new construction like the blue line extension has a big impact. Now, the Defenders team is revealing the exact numbers for response times.
The North Division has the slowest response of all the police divisions during emergencies, according to CMPD numbers.
Hairstylist, Nicole Medina, works near the North police division. “Knowing that doesn't make me feel safe at all,” said Medina.
Medina tells NBC Charlotte she’s called police before in uptown where she lives.
“I hung up the phone and they were almost there two minutes later,” said Medina.
However, the Defenders investigation revealing a different story close to where she works.
The North Division has an average response time of eight and a half minutes for the most urgent calls, according to CMPD numbers. Compare that to a five minute response at the Eastway Division, which is the city’s fastest.
NBC Charlotte asked CMPD how significant a three minute difference is when it comes to emergency response.
“It could be very significant,” says CMPD Deputy Chief Coerte Voorhees.
Deputy Chief Voorhees tells NBC Charlotte new construction, like the blue line construction up North Tryon, plays a role in those response times.
“What would take you ten minutes to get to University area, would take you twenty, twenty five, thirty minutes,” Deputy Chief Voorhees told NBC Charlotte.
The Defenders team is also learning five of the 13 divisions are not meeting the department’s own goal, a seven minute response. That includes the University, Steel Creek, Freedom, and South divisions. However, Deputy Chief Voorhees says the goal is designed to be challenging.
“We wouldn't set a goal that we’re going to just automatically meet,” says Deputy Chief Voorhees.
Most of the divisions are meeting or exceeding the goal. Police say drivers also have a responsibility to move out of the way quickly when lights and sirens are on. After all, when it comes to public safety, citizens and police should be on the same page.
“I would want them there as fast as they can,” says Medina.
“The quicker we get there the most likely we make an arrest,” says Deputy Chief Voorhees.
“We’re not protected if they don’t come fast enough that can mean life or death,” says Medina.
CMPD tells NBC Charlotte there are talks about future plans for divisions, but nothing specific at this point. It’s based on where the most growth in Charlotte is happening.