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Action Plan: A Safer, Stronger Charlotte: Brendan K. Maginnis’ Public Safety Plan

A detailed public safety plan that focuses on expanding successful local programs, incorporating innovative actions from other U.S. cities, raising police pay with education-based incentives, redirecting funds from militarized policing, and addressing crime through economic and employment strategies.

Expanding Current Programs with Proven Impact

Charlotte has several initiatives that show promise but need scaling to maximize impact

Innovative Actions from Other U.S. Cities

Drawing from successful models nationwide, this plan incorporates evidence-based strategies to complement Charlotte’s efforts

Take-Home Vehicle Program and Outer Carrier Vests

To improve officer retention, reduce misconduct, and enhance professionalism, this plan introduces a pay incentive program tied to education

Crime Reduction Through Economic Opportunity

Crime is closely tied to poverty and unemployment. This plan leverages economic strategies to reduce crime by increasing employment and median income.

Vision:

To create a Charlotte where safety is rooted in community trust, economic opportunity, and equitable policing, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and community-driven solutions to reduce crime and address systemic issues like poverty and inequality.

Current Public Safety Landscape in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte faces a mixed public safety picture, with recent data from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) 2024 Public Safety Report highlighting both progress and challenges. Overall crime victimization decreased by 3% in 2024, with property crimes down 4% and juvenile criminal incidents reduced by 9%.

However, violent crimes saw a 3% increase in victimization, with homicides rising 24.7% from 89 in 2023 to 111 in 2024, and arsons up 13.3%. Specific reductions include a 13% drop in residential burglaries and an 8% decrease in vehicle thefts, with Kia/Hyundai thefts down 15%. Juvenile violent crime suspects decreased by 2%, and assaults with deadly weapons by 21%, indicating some success in youth-focused interventions. Street takeovers also saw significant declines, with pop-up incidents down 88% and pre-arranged down 71%, though vehicle seizures increased by 29%.

Economic factors play a role, with Charlotte’s poverty rate at 11.9% compared to the national average of 15.1%, and crime costs projected at $1,569,531,884 for 2025, or $556 per resident, accounting for 1.2% of median household income. Neighborhoods with higher population density and unemployment, often central areas, report higher crime rates, suggesting a link between economic conditions and safety.

Current Issues and Statistics in Charlotte

Crime Trends:

• - Violent Crime: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) reported a 3% increase in violent crime victimization in 2024 compared to 2023, with homicides rising 24.7% (from 89 to 111) and arsons up 13.3%. However, the first quarter of 2025 showed a 17% drop in violent crime and a 6% overall crime reduction compared to Q1 2024, though homicides increased from 20 to 32.

• - Property Crime: Property crime decreased by 4% in 2024, with residential burglaries down 13% (1,731 vs. 1,989) and vehicle thefts down 8% (7,445 vs. 8,054), though juvenile involvement in auto thefts remains high, with 68% of 1,200 arrests in 2023 being juveniles.

• - Juvenile Crime: Crimes involving juveniles dropped 9% in 2024, with a 2% decrease in juvenile violent crime suspects and a 21% reduction in assaults with deadly weapons, but a 300% increase in juvenile homicide suspects and a 75% increase in juvenile homicide victims highlight ongoing challenges.

Arrest Disparities:

• - In 2018, CMPD made 21,918 arrests, with 68% for non-serious, non-violent offenses, and Black residents were arrested at a rate 3.89 times higher than white residents, a disparity that persists and undermines community trust, particularly in communities of color.

• - In 2023, CMPD arrested 3,016 youths (a 34% increase from 2022), with 61% being repeat offenders, indicating systemic issues in addressing juvenile recidivism.

Officer Shortages:

• - As of September 2022, CMPD reported 260 vacancies for sworn officers, and while specific 2025 vacancy data is unavailable, ongoing staffing challenges are noted, with CMPD relying on initiatives like the Civilian Traffic Control Officer (CTCO) program to free up officers for priority calls.

Economic Context:

• - Median Income: Charlotte’s median household income is approximately $63,500 (2024 estimate), with East Charlotte at $44,000, reflecting significant racial and geographic disparities.

• - Poverty and Unemployment: The poverty rate is 11.9%, lower than the national average (15.1%), but high poverty in areas like West and East Charlotte correlates with elevated crime rates, fueling underground economies.

• - Housing: The affordable housing crisis persists, with private-sector dominance limiting solutions, and median home values at $397,862 exceed the national average.

Policing Challenges:

• - Militarization: CMPD’s 2020 expenditure of $103,000 on chemical agents sparked backlash after the “kettling” incident during George Floyd protests, with the City Council halting such funding in response to community concerns.

• - Community Trust: The 2020 tear gas incident and ongoing arrest disparities, as criticized by the Charlotte NAACP, continue to erode trust, with only 40% of North Carolinians feeling safe in 2024.

Plan Components

1. Expanding Current Programs with Proven Impact

Charlotte’s existing programs show promise but require scaling for greater impact, with updated metrics reflecting 2025 data.

- Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative (MREI):

- Current Status: MREI has raised over $150 million for digital equity, workforce development, and corridor revitalization (e.g., Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry).

- Expansion Plan:

• - Secure $50 million in private-sector contributions from corporations like Bank of America and Honeywell to fund workforce training and job placement in high-crime areas.

• - Expand youth mentoring and summer jobs, modeled on New York City’s NeighborhoodStat (7.5% felony reduction), to address the 300% rise in juvenile homicide suspects.

- Metrics: Reduce juvenile-related crime by 12% in targeted corridors by 2027, per CMPD data.

- Partners: Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), Center for Digital Equity, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

- Cops & Barbers Program:

- Current Status: Initiated under Mayor Dan Clodfelter, this program fosters trust through community-police dialogues in barbershops.

- Expansion Plan:

• - Scale to all CMPD districts, focusing on high-crime areas like Beatties Ford/LaSalle, where CORE 13 reduced violent crime by 60% in 2025.

• - Partner with the North Carolina Local Barbershop Association (NCLBA) to train barbers as violence interrupters.

- Metrics: Increase community trust scores by 15% in CMPD surveys by 2028.

- Partners: NCLBA, CMPD Community Engagement Division.

- Opportunity Corridors:

- Current Status: The city invested $24.5 million in corridors like Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry and Central Avenue/Albemarle Road.

- Expansion Plan:

• - Allocate $30 million in neighborhood improvement bonds for infrastructure (e.g., lighting, parks) and small businesses, leveraging 23% crime reduction along light rail corridors from similar investments.

• - Partner with Habitat for Humanity for affordable housing to address poverty-driven crime.

- Metrics: Reduce property crimes by 10% in corridors by 2027, per CMPD data.

- Partners: Charlotte City Council, Habitat for Humanity, Mecklenburg County.

2. Innovative Actions from Other U.S. Cities

The plan adopts evidence-based strategies from other cities to complement Charlotte’s efforts, updated with 2025 context.

- Community Responder Model (Albuquerque, NM):

- Model: Albuquerque’s Community Safety Department uses civilians for non-violent calls, improving response efficiency and trust.

- Implementation:

• - Create a Charlotte Community Safety Agency (CCSA) with $10 million reallocated from CMPD’s budget for non-essential equipment (e.g., chemical agents).

• - Train 50 responders in 2026 to handle 20% of non-violent calls, aligning with CMPD’s CTCO program success.

- Metrics: Reduce police response time for violent crimes by 15% by 2027, per CMPD data.

- Partners: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Atrium Health, National League of Cities (NLC).

- Violence Interruption Programs (Richmond, CA):

- Model: Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety reduced homicides by 80% from 2007 to 2017 through community-based interruption.

- Implementation:

• - Establish a Charlotte Office of Neighborhood Safety (CONS) with $5 million from DOJ Community Violence Intervention grants.

• - Hire 30 interrupters from high-risk communities to mediate conflicts, targeting areas like Beatties Ford/LaSalle.

- Metrics: Reduce gun-related homicides by 20% by 2028, per CMPD data.

- Partners: DOJ, Charlotte Works, University of Chicago Crime Lab.

- Subsidized Employment (Chicago, IL):

- Model: Chicago’s READI program reduced violent crime arrests by 80% through jobs and therapy for high-risk individuals.

- Implementation:

• - Launch a Charlotte READI pilot with $8 million (CMPD funds and private donations), targeting 1,000 high-risk individuals, including juveniles (61% repeat offenders).

• - Partner with JCSU and Charlotte Works for training in tech and construction.

- Metrics: Reduce violent crime arrests among participants by 25% by 2028.

- Partners: JCSU, Charlotte Works, University of Chicago Crime Lab.

3. Take-Home Vehicle Program and Outer Carrier Vests

To enhance officer morale, retention, and community safety, this plan introduces a take-home vehicle program and standardizes outer carrier vests for CMPD’s nearly 1,800 officers, addressing key officer priorities.

- Take-Home Vehicle Program:

• Details: Provide take-home vehicles for nearly 1,800 officers, enhancing visibility and response capabilities.

• Community Benefits: Increases police presence in neighborhoods, deterring crime (e.g., 4% property crime drop in 2024) and building trust through familiar officer visibility, as seen in National Night Out events. Boosts morale, aiding retention amid 304 vacancies, with studies showing take-home programs improve recruitment by up to 15%.

• Implementation: Launch in 2026 with a pilot for 500 vehicles in high-crime areas like Beatties Ford.

• Cost: $12M annually ($6,667 per vehicle × 1,800, based on $5,000-$10,000 industry benchmarks for maintenance, fuel, depreciation).

• Funding: $8M from non-essential CMPD equipment (e.g., surplus tactical gear), $4M from DOJ COPS Office grants.

• Metrics: Fill 80% of officer vacancies by 2028, increase community trust scores by 15%.

  -Outer Carrier Vests:
  

• Details: Issue outer carrier vests to all 1,800 officers, following CMPD’s 2024 policy shift allowing requests without medical exemptions.

• Community Benefits: Improves officer comfort and morale, with 900 officers (49% of the force) applying for vests in 2025 to reduce chronic back and hip pain from duty belts. Enhances approachability, as seen in Milwaukee where vests led to positive resident interactions (e.g., hugs, photos), countering concerns about militarized appearance and fostering trust.

• Implementation: Equip all officers by 2026, building on the delayed 2025 bulk order.

• Cost: $540,000 one-time ($300 per vest × 1,800 officers, based on Mecklenburg Sheriff’s pricing).

• Funding: Reallocate $540,000 from non-essential CMPD equipment (e.g., surplus ballistic shields).

• Metrics: Reduce officer injury reports by 10%, increase morale by 2028.

• Partners: CMPD, DOJ COPS Office, UNC Charlotte (for morale studies).

4. Crime Reduction Through Economic Opportunity

Economic strategies target poverty and unemployment to reduce crime, updated with 2025 economic data.

- Subsidized Employment Program:

- Details: Expand MREI to create 2,000 subsidized jobs in high-crime areas (e.g., East Charlotte, $44,000 median income), focusing on construction, tech, and healthcare with wraparound services.

- Rationale: Programs like READI Chicago cut violent crime arrests by 80%, addressing Charlotte’s 11.9% poverty rate.

- Funding: $15 million ($10M MREI private funds, $5M WIOA grants).

- Metrics: Increase median income by 10% and reduce unemployment-related crimes by 15% by 2028.

- Small Business Support:

- Details: Invest $10 million in grants and loans in opportunity corridors to create 500 jobs.

- Rationale: Stable economies reduce property crimes (down 4% in 2024).

- Funding: $5 million from CMPD reallocation, $5 million from HUD CDBG.

- Metrics: Reduce property crimes by 10% in corridors by 2027.

- Digital Equity for Economic Mobility:

- Details: Expand MREI’s Center for Digital Equity to provide devices and training to 5,000 residents.

- Rationale: Digital access reduces poverty-driven crime, supporting East Charlotte’s economic uplift.

- Funding: $5 million MREI, $2 million FCC Affordable Connectivity Program.

- Metrics: Increase employment in trained households by 20% by 2028.

- Partners: MREI, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, HUD, FCC, Charlotte Works.

Funding Summary

- Total Annual Cost: $40 million

- MREI Expansion: $15M (private contributions, bonds)

- Community Responder Model (CCSA): $10M (CMPD reallocation)

- Violence Interruption (CONS): $5M (DOJ grants)

- Police Education Incentives: $7M ($5M CMPD, $2M DOJ grants)

- Subsidized Employment: $15M ($10M MREI, $5M WIOA)

- Small Business Support: $10M ($5M CMPD, $5M CDBG)

- Digital Equity: $7M ($5M MREI, $2M FCC)

- Redirected Funds: $10 million from CMPD’s militarized equipment and non-essential operations.

Total Annual Cost: $40 million
Redirected Funds: $10 million from CMPD’s militarized equipment and non-essential operations.

Implementation Timeline

- Year 1 (2026):

• - Launch CCSA and CONS pilots in Beatties Ford and LaSalle.

• - Start police education incentives with UNC Charlotte and CPCC.

• - Secure $50 million for MREI expansion.

• - Initiate subsidized employment for 1,000 residents.

- Year 2 (2027):

• - Scale CCSA to handle 20% of non-violent calls.

• - Expand violence interruption to three more high-crime areas.

• - Increase small business grants and digital equity access.

- Year 3 (2028):

• - Evaluate metrics: crime reduction, officer retention, trust.

• - Adjust programs based on CMPD and economic data.

Expected Outcomes

- Crime Reduction: 20% decrease in gun-related homicides, 15% reduction in unemployment-related crimes, 10% drop in property crimes by 2028.

- Police Reform: 20% reduction in misconduct complaints, 80% vacancy fill rate, improved trust scores.

- Economic Impact: 10% median income increase, 2,500 new jobs, 5,000 residents with digital access.

- Community Trust: Enhanced relationships via Cops & Barbers and CONS, targeting 15% higher trust scores.

Key Organizations and Stakeholders

- Local: CMPD, Charlotte City Council, MREI, JCSU, Charlotte Works, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, Mecklenburg County Health Department, Atrium Health.

- State/National: DOJ (COPS Office, Community Violence Intervention grants), HUD, FCC, NLC, University of Chicago Crime Lab.

- Community: NCLBA, Charlotte NAACP, SEAC Village, Queen City Nerve.

Addressing Vi Lyles’ Record

Mayor Lyles has advanced MREI and housing, but her administration faces criticism for slow police reform, persistent arrest disparities (3.89 times higher for Black residents), and insufficient economic program scale, with only 40% of residents feeling safe in 2024.

Maginnis’ plan accelerates change by redirecting $10 million from militarized policing, scaling community solutions, and prioritizing economic equity to address crime’s root causes.

Conclusion

Maginnis’ plan positions him as a forward-thinking leader, balancing police reform with community investment. By leveraging 2025 data—showing a 3% violent crime rise and juvenile crime challenges—it expands proven programs, adopts innovative models, incentivizes officer education, and drives economic opportunity, ensuring a safer, more equitable Charlotte by 2028 with clear funding and measurable outcomes.

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