CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
There have been 30 homicides in Charlotte so far in 2024, making it the deadliest start to a year in at least a decade.
Charlotte has particularly seen an uptick in teens involved in crime. Shootings involving a suspect under 18 increased 33% in 2023, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Due to these issues, CMPD is seeking solutions to crime in the Queen City by building trust through community policing.
The department even recognizes officers who build positive relationships with the people in their neighborhoods with the Police-Community Relations Awards.
CMPD Officer Ashley Brown received the award after being active in the lives of the youth. She says it's the same support she received when she was a teenager, and believes it's making a positive impact.
“It’s all about building trust in the community," Brown said.
She's determined to make connections as a community coordinator for CMPD.
“What issues you have in the communities that may not be portrayed in the computer systems," Brown said.
Brown volunteers in the Hickory Grove Division and is an active mentor for kids and teens in our community.
“We can be that mentor in their life, we can be there for them to let them know they’re not alone," Brown said.
It's that same support Brown received after her mother died by suicide when brown was 16 years old. Police officers became like family, keeping her on the right path.
“To give back and pay it forward and how they were with me, is how I try to be with the kids in our community," Brown said. “Community policing isn’t always about enforcing the law but finding solutions to prevent that crime."
She says sometimes young people struggle physically, emotionally, and economically.
“The areas that they live in they’ve seen a lot of things in their communities that most adults go through their life without seeing," Brown said. "From homicides, drug sells, and other crimes, shootings, and those are things that are going to mold these children, mold them into the adults they’re going to become."
That's why she says the work she does is so important because understanding why people commit crimes starts with someone feeling seen and supported.
She encourages others to go out and volunteer in their communities.
"Make a difference you don’t have to have a uniform," Brown said.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles released a statement on community policing and youth violence saying:
"We cannot ignore the troubling rise in violence involving young people in our city over the past few years. Too many of our teens and children have been caught up in a cycle of crime, violence, and despair. This tears at the fabric of our community. However, we know that getting youths on a better path is not just about tough enforcement - it's about positive engagement and personal connections. That's why community policing initiatives that build trust and relationships between our police officers and young people are so vital.
"When officers take the time to coach youth sports teams, mentor students, and simply have informal positive interactions with kids, it can change perspectives on both sides. Officers get to know the youth as individuals with potential, not just statistics. And kids see officers as humans invested in their wellbeing, not just an occupying force.
"These person-to-person bonds are powerful. They show our children that police are here to protect and uplift the community, not just police it. And they provide officers valuable insights into positive dynamics to help steer kids toward better choices.
"Redirecting even a fraction of at-risk youth from violence to more positive outlets paves the way for them to become successful, productive citizens. That not only means safer neighborhoods for all, but a brighter future for our city.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations is accepting nominations for the 44th annual Police-Community Relations Awards.
The awards ceremony is an annual feature of National Police Week.
Nominations of an officer or team may be submitted using an online form or by mail. Mailed nominations should be addressed to:
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee
Belmont Regional Center
700 Parkwood Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28205
Mailed nominations should include:
- The name, phone number and email address of the person making the nomination.
- The names of the officer or officers being nominated.
- The district where the officers work.
- The characteristics that qualify the officers for an award.
The submission deadline is April 5. Nominations will be reviewed by a group made up of members of the Community Relations Committee. Officers selected will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 16.