Tagged: CMPD

Charlotte police are rapidly expanding their use of technology to detect and locate gunshots in real-time.

The "ShotSpotter" system debuted in Uptown Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention and was expanded to the Grier Heights community in March. It uses a system of microphones to detect gunfire and notify police.

On Monday night, the Charlotte City Council approved $140,000 to extend CMPD's contract with ShotSpotter in the Central District and install it in another neighborhood struggling with violent crime: Albemarle Road and Farm Pond Road.  

The current debate over creating a regional authority to oversee the Charlotte airport has made for frosty relations between city officials, who oppose the move,  and Aviation Director Jerry Orr, who is for it.

But internal emails show things have been tense for some time. WFAE's Julie Rose has gone through some 400 pages of emails and documents related to the city manager's decision last year to put CMPD in charge of airport security. She spoke with Morning Edition Host Duncan McFadyen:

  Mayor Anthony Foxx says he's met twice recently with Vice President Joe Biden on the topic of gun control and this he week signed a letter with other mayors supporting tougher firearms laws. But Foxx also wonders if the city may be inadvertently helping to fund the push against gun control. WFAE's Julie Rose reports:

Mayor Foxx this week asked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for details about where it gets its firearms and bullets. The lobby against new gun laws is "pretty effective in Washington" says Foxx.