CMPD gang unit expands

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The new beefed up gang unit of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police plans to bring the hammer down on the growing gang problem.

"It means arrests," said Capt. Steve Willis, who leads the gang unit. "We are going to go out and we are going to target gang members and gangs that are impacting our neighborhoods."

Chief Rodney Monroe’s department reorganization last month quadrupled the size of the gang unit from four members to a team of 16 detectives.

"We kind of had to pick and choose what we worked on," said Willis about previous gang unit operations.

In the past, the unit’s focus was primarily on intelligence gathering.

"We have additional staff," Willis said. "That gives us the opportunity to take that intelligence to the next level."

Neighbors may not notice the added police presence in their neighborhoods because the gang unit works undercover.

"They’ll see us when we make the arrests," he said.

Members of the gang unit now also get involved in most initial murder investigations.

"We’re sending a gang detective to see whether there is any nexus of gang activity," added Willis.

At the state level, new legislation will add teeth to the fight against gangs. Beginning in December, drive-by shooting will be considered a felony in North Carolina.

"Our emphasis is going to be on removing the gang members from the community as soon as we can," said Willis. "Fortunately, we don’t have what you see on TV in L.A., where we have gang members vying for turf."