This is the University City Division Response Area Three newsletter. You are receiving this

newsletter because you are listed as a member of our community. If someone you know would

like to be added to our mailing list, please have them contact Lt. Jim Morrison at:

jmorrison@cmpd.org

For access to up-to-the-minute traffic accidents, to report a non-emergency crime, access to

police reports, or to resolve a traffic citation please visit: WWW.CMPD.ORG

CALL 911 TO REPORT SUSPICOUS PERSONS, SUSPICIOUS CARS, OR

OTHER SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY!

If you have a story or community event that you would like published in our next

newsletter, please contact the Editor, Officer Chad Webster at cwebster@cmpd.org.

November 2015 Volume 7 Issue 11

University City Division Response Area Three 704 432-3900

Included in this issue: Response Area Three map

Part One Crime comparison October 2014 to October 2015

Significant arrests

Nextdoor Charlotte Program

Firearm By Felon

Community Meetings and Events

Traffic alerts

Holiday Safety Tips

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

Special message from Captain Foley

Meet your Response Area Three Team:

University City Division Response Area Three Map

Response Area Three Commander – Lieutenant Jim Morrison I’ve been the Response Area Three Commander since September 2008 when

Chief Monroe introduced his crime fighting strategy. I’ve been with CMPD

for over 20 years and graduated with the 107th

Recruit Class in December of

1991. My first assignment was in the Westover Division and I’ve had

assignments in various facets of patrol for most of my career. I’m originally

from Providence, RI and am a graduate of Rhode Island College where I

attained a BA in Criminal Justice. I’ve lived in Charlotte since 1991.

Lieutenant Jim Morrison jmorrison@cmpd.org

Response Area Three Coordinator – Officer Chad Webster My name is Chad Webster and I have been with CMPD since March 2002. I

have worked in the North Division and The University City Division. Not

only am I a Community Coordinator, I’m also the division’s Domestic

Violence Liaison Officer. I moved to Charlotte in February 1998 from

Upstate New York and have no plans of going back! Please contact me with

anything you feel would be helpful in this newsletter.

Officer Chad Webster cwebster@cmpd.org 704 432-3900

Response Area Three Coordinator – Officer Erik Markus I am a native and I was born here in Charlotte, North Carolina. I attended

Western Carolina University where I attained a BS degree in Criminal

Justice. I was hired with CMPD on July of 2000. I spent my first seven

years as a patrol officer in the South Division and have spent my last eight

years in the University Division as a patrol officer. I am now assigned as a

community coordinator and I look forward in making new relationships

with the community so we can work together to make our community a

better and safer place to live.

Officer Erik Markus emarkus@cmpd.org Phone: 704-432-3900

University City Division Response Area Three includes “The Triangle” which is the

area extending from the 29/49 split north to WT Harris Blvd and the Faires Farm

area which encompasses all the neighborhoods from McLean Road north to Back

Creek Church Road. Response Area Three is home to numerous hotels, Wal-Mart,

IKEA, Target, and Reedy Creek Park.

Offenses in University City Division Response Area Three

Comparing October 2014 to October 2015

Incident Type October 2014 October 2015 Difference Percent Change

Auto Theft 3 11 8 266.67 %

Commercial Burglary 4 8 4 100.00 %

Residential Burglary-Storage Bldg 0 4 4 NA

Armed Robbery 2 2 0 0.00 %

Aggravated Assault-Fists,Feet, etc. 1 0 -1 -100.00 %

Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon 1 0 -1 -100.00 %

Larceny from Auto 22 21 -1 -4.55 %

Larceny of Bicycle 1 0 -1 -100.00 %

Rape 1 0 -1 -100.00 %

Strong Arm Robbery 1 0 -1 -100.00 %

Residential Burglary 11 8 -3 -27.27 %

Larceny-Other 22 18 -4 -18.18 %

Larceny from Building 8 3 -5 -62.50 %

Larceny-Shoplifting 24 15 -9 -37.50 %

The above chart shows the Part 1 offenses (the most serious crimes) in Response Area

Three. The chart compares years 2014 to 2015 during the month of October. The

incident type is in the first column, the 2014 count, the 2015 count, the difference in

total, and the final column shows the percent change.

Crime Trends comparing October 2014 to October 2015

Larceny from Auto – Not much of a change here. The Triangle area got hit pretty hard.

Recently, hotels are getting hit. It seems a crew is targeting pick-up trucks, specifically Fords,

and punching the locks. Suspects look for stickers and decals on vehicles to give them an idea

what you may have in your vehicle. Many of the cases where firearms are stolen out of vehicles,

the victim vehicle had some sort of “gun/firearm” decal.

Residential Burglary – Down 27%, not bad. 3 of these cases were cleared, as well. 2 of

these were in Loren Farms. A witness played a key role which lead to the arrests in these cases.

So please keep an eye out for your friends and neighbors. No real trend for October, though.

Commercial Burglary – Up 100%. Last year was low, so it’s hard to beat 4. The Triangle

was hit hard for commercial burglaries. A couple retail stores were targeted this month. This is

why it’s good to have Asset Protection in stores, a good surveillance system, and someone that

knows how to work the surveillance system.

Auto Theft – 11? 11? Really?? There’s no real trend, as far as location, but there is definitely

an increase in moped and motorcycle thefts. They accounted for all but 3 of our total. If you

own either, please do what you can to protect your investment.

Sexual Assault – None reported in October. This is good . . . yet again.

Armed Robbery – Down from 2 to 2...ok, I know that’s not a decrease, but I’m trying to be

positive! One of these cases is suspicious at best, while the other might actually be legitimate.

NOTABLE ARRESTS in our Response Area:

Eric Tyrone – Commercial burglary – N Tryon St

Deszmond Smith – Misdemeanor B/E

Geoffrey Austin – Possession of Stolen Vehicle - Walmart

Community Project –

Timberlands/Whispering Oaks:

Community Issue: Commercial vehicles using

Brookwood Road as a cut-through.

Actions taken: Traffic enforcement – including citations and warnings

Contacted repeat offender businesses

Partnered with NCSHP and NCDVM for assistance

Continual contact between CMPD and citizens that live on Brookwood Rd

Contacted CDOT reference possible signage on Rocky River Rd and

Caldwell Rd prior to turning into Brookwood Rd

CDOT surveyed and erected signs at CMPD request

There has been a significant reduction in the number of commercial vehicles

travelling on Brookwood Rd since this initiative began in July.

If you have an issue in your community that you haven’t brought to our

attention already please email us so we can assist you!

CDOT responded to a CMPD

request about having signage

visible to drivers before they

turned onto Brookwood Rd. On

10/9/15, two of these signs went

up and have made a positive

difference.

Community meetings & events: Autumnwood H.O.A. Meeting

Tuesday November 10, 2015 1500 W Rocky River Rd 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Brantley Oaks H.O.A. Meeting

Monday November 9, 2015 Location subject to change 7:00 pm Contact: Jmobley@yahoo.com Farmwood North H.O.A. Meeting

Thursday November 12, 2015 8600 Hood Rd 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm University Center Apartments “Cops, Coffee, and Cupcakes”

Thursday November 19, 2015 1421 Baseline Rd 6:00 to 8:00 pm Please email me at cwebster@cmpd.org if you’d like your community event posted here. Thanks!

Blue Line construction:

Please drive carefully along N Tryon St. There have been several traffic shifts and changes. Please pay attention and watch for workers.

“BBQ with THE BOYS IN BLUE”

Join LT Morrison, Officer Markus, and

Officer Webster for great food and

conversation for our inaugural event. Bring

the family out for this meet-and-greet and

Shane’s will provide a complimentary peach

cobbler with each lunch order!

When: Saturday

December 5, 2015 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Where: Shane’s Rib

Shack 440 E McCullough Dr Ste 123

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department launched a

program intended to target felons carrying firearms in our community. The program urges

members of the community to call a dedicated phone line and forward anonymous information

with the identity and whereabouts of a felon in the possession of a firearm. The anonymous

caller will be eligible for a $500.00 reward if an arrest is made as a result of their anonymous

tip. Additionally, anyone in the public who forwards information leading to the arrest of a

person illegally carrying a firearm may be eligible for a cash reward.

During this campaign the community is asked to call our firearm tip line at 704-334-1600

to speak with a dispatcher. They will need to give the name and or detailed description of the

suspect, and where the person is at the time of the call. Callers will not be required to leave

their name, number, or address. A Detective with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers

will follow up on the dispositions of these anonymous calls and will arrange a time and date to

pay out reward money to the caller when applicable. As always, anyone requiring an emergency

response from police is asked to immediately call 9-11. Currently, the campaign has netted the recovery of over 38 guns and 14 arrests.

Remember it is anonymous and the call can result in a

Cash Reward.

A special message from Captain Foley:

Hello, I’m Captain Brian Foley, the new commander of CMPD’s University City Division. I was

assigned to this position in September 2015, having completed a tour in the city-wide Watch

Commanders Office. I am a current and native resident of Charlotte, graduate of Myers Park

High School and have a BS in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel

Hill. An officer since 1992, I have served with the Mecklenburg County Police Department and

the consolidated Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. I have had assignments in the

former Adam 1 and Charlie 1 Districts; and have spent over 11 years assigned in the Northern

part of Mecklenburg County, including the University area and most recently in the North

Division. I am a recipient of the CMPD Police Community Relations award and Outstanding

Employee of the Year award. I have a special interest in community and business relations and

enjoy speaking to groups regarding growth and development in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and its

effects on crime and policing.

I am excited to be assigned back to this familiar territory and am looking forward to working

with all of you to address the challenges of further growth and development in University City.

Captain B. Foley

University City Division

8401 University Executive Park

Drive

Charlotte, NC 28262

Office: 704-432-3900

11 Surprising Thanksgiving Facts

Do you love Thanksgiving? I mean do you really LOVE everything about the holiday, from the

delicious food to seeing your crazy relatives? Then you are going to be amazed at what goes into

making the holiday what it is. And you thought cooking your turkey was a challenge.

1) Are you ready for a day (or three) of eating?

If you can't make it through the daylong celebration of food, football and family be thankful that

you weren't around for the first Thanksgiving. That celebration took place in the fall of 1621 in

Plymouth Colony between European settlers and the Wampanoag Indians and it lasted three

days. Talk about a food coma.

2) What's in a name?

If you think that your Thanksgiving celebration is something special, chances are it has nothing

on the celebration in Turkey Creek, La. That town, which has only 440 residents, is one of four

towns in the United States with the word turkey in its name. The others are Turkey, Texas,

Turkey, N.C. and Turkey Creek, Ariz.

There are also seven towns named after popular Thanksgiving side dishes. Towns and cities

named after cranberries are the most popular. In total, seven townships and cities in the United

States are named for cranberries, though most have different spellings. [Pardon a Turkey? 7

Thanksgiving Traditions Explained]

3) Who doesn't eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

More people than you may have thought. According to the National Turkey Federation, 88

percent of Americans have turkey on Thanksgiving. So if our math is correct, that leaves 12

percent of people who don't eat turkey on the holiday. Maybe they go for Tofurky? Or

Turducken?

4) That's a lot of turkeys

Filling America's appetite for turkeys is a tall task. Last year there were 254 million

turkeys raised in the United States, which is up 2 percent from the previous year. The most

popular state for raising turkeys was Minnesota, which raised 46 million turkeys last year.

Minnesota, along with North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia, Indiana and California,

accounted for 70 percent of the turkeys raised in the United States last year.

5) More popular than Christmas and Easter?

Even with 12 percent of people not eating turkey on the holiday, Thanksgiving is still the most

popular holiday for turkey consumption. It is estimated that 46 million turkeys are eaten on

Thanksgiving, beating out the number eaten on Christmas and Easter combined.

6) That's a big bird

The average turkey purchased for Thanksgiving weighs 16 lbs. (7 kilograms), the National

Turkey Federation says. White meat makes up 70 percent of turkeys, while dark meat makes up

the other 30 percent. In case you are wondering, white meat has fewer calories and fat than dark

meat (for all those dieters trying to make it through the holidays).

7) We can't handle it all

Some of what you eat on Thanksgiving is imported from places that don't even celebrate the

holiday. For example, 99.8 percent of imported turkeys come from Canada (they actually do

celebrate Thanksgiving, but in October), while the Dominican Republic produces 51 percent of

imported sweet potatoes.

8) Thank you berry much

A lot of cranberries are needed to accompany all that turkey on Thanksgiving. In all, 768 million

lbs. (350 million kilograms) of cranberries were produced in the United States last year. Two

states — Wisconsin and Massachusetts — were responsible for most of the production,

producing 450 million and 210 million lbs. (200 million and 95 million kg) of cranberries,

respectively.

9) How sweet it is

Satisfying America's sweet tooth takes a few billion pounds of sweet potatoes. Last year alone

the United States produced 2.6 billion lbs. (1 billion kg) of sweet potatoes. North Carolina led

production with 1.2 billion lbs. (0.5 billion kg).

10) Some turkeys can't fly but they have been to space

In fact, turkey was the first meal enjoyed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they were on

the moon. Now you can be the talk of your dinner table this holiday — a perfect turkey tidbit to

impress holiday dinner guests.

11) Bald eagle who?

It's hard to imagine the turkey as the official bird of the United States, but if Ben Franklin had

had his way, it could have been. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin referred to the turkey saying,

"I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country! The turkey is a

much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America."

All facts are from the United States Census Bureau and the National Turkey Federation.

Officer Chad Webster

cwebster@cmpd.org

704-432-3900