Calendar Details:
Friday, July 3
HOLIDAY-INDEPENDENCE DAY OBSERVED
Information Items:
City-wide Preparedness and Operations for Fourth of July
Resource:
Kim McMillan, Corporate Communications, 704-336-2643, kmcmillan@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Safety: The City's top priority during any event is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all our citizens. As in previous years, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has taken a number of precautions to ensure public safety including a larger than normal deployment of officers throughout the county. CMPD will be limiting vacation leave for officers and coordinating the use of officers working off-duty assignments. All field service (patrol) divisions will be fully staffed and prepared to respond to an expected increase in calls for service on the evening of July 4 and the early hours of July 5. Calls related to parties, fireworks, traffic accidents and alcohol typically increase during this time.
CMPD, in partnership with the Charlotte Fire Department, MEDIC and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, has developed a comprehensive operational plan for Center City activities and uptown fireworks display. Officers will enforce violations, including the ordinance forbidding open containers of alcohol, blocking city streets and sidewalks, and possession of illegal fireworks.
The Youth Protection Ordinance that requires children under the age of 16 (unless accompanied by a parent or guardian) to be home by curfew (midnight Saturday) will be enforced as well. If a child is out past midnight and the police get involved, parents will be required to pick the child up at CMPD headquarters and may receive citations.
The CMPD Command Center will be open late afternoon on July 4 with a full complement of Civil Emergency Unit officers deployed during the evening hours.
Customer Service: CMPD requested staffing assistance from 311 between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 311 will extend staffing from 7:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to manage higher call volume. 311 will also have staff onsite at the CMPD Command Center.
Citizens should use 311 to report noise and fireworks issues so 911 is available for emergency calls.
Public Transportation: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will run a Sunday schedule for local services on Friday, July 3. Express routes will run but with fewer trips. Customers need to check the website or call customer service for exact trips. LYNX will run a Saturday schedule.
On Saturday, July 4, CATS will run a Saturday schedule for all services.
Communications: Corporate Communications has coordinated an on-call emergency schedule for communication staff from CATS, CDOT, CMPD, Utilities, Airport and 311. In the event of an emergency or media inquiry 311 will know who is on call and can notify the proper person.
FY09 Justice Assistance Grant
Resource:
Chief Rodney Monroe, CMPD, 704-336-2337, rmonroe@cmpd.org
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has been notified that it will receive $1,037,093 in funds from the FY09 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). These are funds the department receives on an annual basis and are not related to the federal stimulus program.
The enabling legislation for the JAG Program requires that the City share a portion of its funds with Mecklenburg County. Under the existing agreement with the County, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office will receive 25% of the funds ($259,273). The City's portion of the funding will be $777,820.
Chief Monroe has indicated that he plans to spend the funds as follows:
- $377,820 will be used for overtime in the patrol divisions to target specific crime problems and new crime trends as they emerge.
- $220,000 will be used to fund the Police Cadet Program. This program provides college students an opportunity to work at CMPD for 20 hours per week in assignments that expose them to police work and allow CMPD to evaluate their potential to function successfully as police officers. The students are paid a salary and reimbursed for college tuition. Once a student turns 21, he/she is expected to apply to become an officer with CMPD. The program has been in existence for a number of years; Chief Monroe is implementing several changes including requiring that students major in either criminal justice or criminology.
- $180,000 will be used to expand the offerings of the Police Athletic League to include after school and summer camp programs that emphasize academics, cultural opportunities, college and career planning, and life skills. This is part of the department's efforts to move the Police Athletic League towards the national model of a Police Activities League with a wider range of activities to appeal to more youth throughout the community.
Council will be asked to accept the grant and appropriate the funds upon receipt of the grant award.
