It’s about to get real in the Queen City.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is turning up the pressure, calling for the deployment of the National Guard to Charlotte to help handle what they say is a spiraling “violence crisis.”
Charlotte Police Arrest Young Boy For “Reckless Driving” On A Bicycle In Uptown — TikTok Video Sparks Outrage
In a dramatic move, the union even reached out to Governor Josh Stein and President Donald Trump, asking for boots on the ground to help with violent crime.
In a letter dated last Friday, FOP President Daniel Redford said violent crime is up, homicides have nearly tripled—and Charlotte’s police force is too understaffed and overwhelmed to deal with it.
“The current crime-fighting strategies, combined with strained staffing levels, are unsustainable,” Redford wrote.
Charlotte has been shaken in recent weeks by several disturbing killings:
-
Iryna Zarutska, a woman stabbed to death while riding the light rail
-
A 4-year-old child, shot and killed while sleeping during a car theft
-
A midday shootout outside Latta Arcade in uptown
-
A 16-year-old gunned down in the middle of a Target parking garage in midtown
The FOP says these aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of a trend. According to their statement, homicides in Charlotte are up nearly 200% compared to this time last year.
READ LETTER:
Despite the grim stats, Charlotte’s top leaders ain’t with it.
Mayor Vi Lyles quickly shut the idea down, saying military-style deployment isn’t the answer and that the city should focus on strategic staffing and community-based solutions.
