CMPD bike officers at RNC wearing vests at center of controversy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Photos of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee are firing people up online.
While patrolling in Milwaukee, CMPD’s bike officers are wearing what’s called an outer carrier vest. The controversy isn’t that these officers can wear them. It’s that patrol officers can’t.
“I don’t understand why you would want to handcuff officers who are just trying to respond better to the behavior that they have to deal with daily,” said Chet Effler with the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police.
Law enforcement officers from across the country are in Milwaukee to boost security for the Republican National Convention. Many of them are wearing something in common.
“There’s officers from the City of Cary here wearing them,” said Effler. “There’s officers from, you know, the City of Greensboro here. And there’s officers from other agencies from all over the United States.”
The outer carrier vests are at the center of controversy back in Charlotte. Right now, they’re only worn by CMPD bicycle officers and others in specialized units. The city’s patrol officers are limited to the utility belt we’ve historically seen police wear.
“That weight on the human body is tough, and these vests help protect an officer from back issues, chiropractic visits, doctor visits and other medical issues,” said Effler.
City Councilmember Tariq Bokhari is pushing for the purchase of outer carrier vests, saying hundreds of officers have told him they’d like them for general wear and it would help them better protect and serve the community.
Police Chief Johnny Jennings has expressed his disapproval in the following statement:
“These vests offer no additional ballistic protection and raise officer safety concerns. It is important to note that three fallen officers wore outer vests on April 29. In addition, the outer vest has a military-style appearance that contradicts the community-oriented policing philosophy I have championed for years. Certain tactical units within CMPD are currently issued outer carrier vests, but I will not support outer carrier vests as standard patrol-issued equipment.”
As someone who’s worn the vest before, Effler has his own opinions.
“I’ve never noticed the public treat officers any different,” he said. “In Milwaukee, I see people going up and hugging police officers and getting pictures with them.”
Chief Jennings said while certain tactical units within his department wear outer carrier vests, he will not support the vests as standard patrol-issued equipment.
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