WBT
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has established a Crime Gun Suppression Team to combat a recent rise in violence, according to a statement on Wednesday. A newly-formed task force that is composed of detectives from the CMPD’s Gang Unit, SIOP Task Force and TRAP Unit.
“The fusion of these teams will pair Gang Unit detectives’ intimate knowledge of organized criminal structures with SIOP Task Force detectives’ expertise in addressing retaliatory and serious gun-crime cases. TRAP Unit detectives round off the equation through their proven track record of apprehending criminals,” according to CMPD.
As of March 23, there have been more than 400 gun-related assault cases reported, 101 people have been shot, and 195 homes and cars have been struck by gunfire. Since January, the CGST has seized 24 illegal guns and made 33 arrests. The group was quick to identify the shooter involved in the Northlake Mall incident that occurred on Saturday.
The CGST will have access to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Program. This allows rapid information sharing and up-to-date reports on cases, but also gives detectives the ability to connect firearms to multiple cases, regardless of where the crime occurred.
Anyone with information about a crime is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or charlottecrimestoppers.com. All information given to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous, and tipsters will never have to provide their name, never have to provide their contact information and never need to appear in court. Tipsters providing information leading to an arrest in felony cases are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
