CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A month after the shooting deaths of four area law enforcement officers, local leaders moved forward Thursday with plans to better protect Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.
In the aftermath of the east Charlotte shooting on April 29, Councilmember Tariq Bokhari (District 6) said he met with surviving officers, who have offered suggestions. Among other safety improvements, he's asking the Charlotte City Council to include just under $100,000 in this year's budget for 39 ballistic shields. That would allow every division to have three shields that would protect against rifles. Police have said the Galway Drive gunman used an AR-15.
"This is going to be something rated for rifle rounds that I think is going to potentially save lives and I've heard from several others as I've asked would have been priceless on April 29 to have," Councilmember Bokhari said.
When the fugitive opened fire on officers, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said the gunman's weapon, along with his second floor position, put them at a major disadvantage. When asked, the chief suggested his officers were not wearing added protection that day,
"The traditional body armor for police officers does not withstand a rifle round," he said at a news conference just days after the shooting. "The AR-15 is able to suppress rapid gunfire and obviously holds a great deal of ammunition and this individual was able to unload several rounds towards our officers within a matter of seconds."
In 2016, the Charlotte City Council approved money for CMPD to buy hundreds of bulletproof vests rated to protect against rifle rounds. The vests, while not meant for every day wear, were intended to go in each patrol and be used when needed, like during an active shooter call.
"That would be a situation where an officer would go into their trunk and they would put this vest on prior to going into that situation where we have an active shooter situation," a former deputy chief said during a 2016 council meeting.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police President Daniel Redford said the rifle vests are still around. However, in the rare moments of need, when officers' emotions and adrenaline take over, he said those potentially lifesaving vests are not top of mind.
"The first thing in their mind is getting to the scene, getting out of their car and helping these officers and helping ensure that they're there for each other. They're not thinking about their safety necessarily. They're not thinking about and remembering that that vest is in the car and that that that equipment is there. It's unfortunate we see that," Redford told WCNC Charlotte. "Their primary objective is to get there and help save somebody and unfortunately, vital equipment is getting left behind for whatever reason."
While the existing rifle rated vests are at officers' disposal, he said they are impractical for use because they are heavy, uncomfortable and come in only one size. Redford said he's glad leaders and police are having these important equipment discussions and is hopeful they'll continue.
"We got to kind of step back a little bit from the rush to say, 'This is what we need now' to make sure that what we are getting is truly in fact what we need," he said.
Redford added the shields suggested by Councilmember Bokhari are "another option" CMPD officers do not currently have at its disposal.
The councilmember is also requesting $150,000 for active shooter med kits that can go in patrol cars. During Thursday afternoon's straw votes, the Charlotte City Council approved both the ballistic shields and med kits for inclusion in the final budget.
Councilmember Bokhari initially wanted another $500,000 for outer carrier vests. Officers could wear those vests over their uniforms, rather than underneath, and the city could consider eventually equipping them with rifle plates for added protection, he previously said. However, during Thursday's meeting, he retracted that request, knowing the council would have to vote against the wishes of Chief Jennings "who does not like how (outer carrier vests) look."
CMPD refused to answer questions for this story, citing state law that prevents them from releasing sensitive security information to the public. The U.S. Marshals Service also declined to release specifics, citing safety and security concerns.
The Charlotte City Council is expected to approve a final budget on June 10.
Contact Nate Morabito at nmorabito@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.