Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police Asked The Trump Administration To Deploy the National Guard Due To Crime Surge And Staff Shortage
LLast night, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of the Police issued a letter officially asking the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard to address the public safety crisis. The letter highlights the police’s perspective on the situation, but Mayor Vi Lyles or Governor Josh Stein would need to officially request help before the Trump Administration could deploy.
Here are some key quotes from the letter:
On behalf of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, this letter serves as formal notice of our intent to request federal law enforcement assistance, including the National Guard.
This request is due to the ongoing failure of city and police leadership to address the severe staffing crisis within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), which we believe has led to a violence crisis in Charlotte.
The murder of Iryna Zarutska on August 22, 2025, brought national attention to Charlotte. Yet since her death, more lives have been lost to gun violence, despite the so-called “actions” taken by city leaders.
The current crime-fighting strategies and strained staffing are unsustainable. They place an unacceptable burden on our officers and jeopardize both their safety and public’s. With discussion already underway regarding National Guard and federal involved, we believe the time has come to formally request their assistance to relieve pressure on our rank-and-file members before more of our citizens die and our officers get hurt.
In July, CMPD released its mid-year report, highlighting a significant drop in violent crime. However, since that report, Charlotte has experienced nearly 25 homicides— including a mass shooting that left five additional victims injured.
As we seek relief through federal and National Guard support, I urge Charlotte Mayor Vi Lles, City Manager Marcus Jones, and the rest of the council to back our request… However, if silence and inaction persist, and staffing does not significantly improve quickly, CMPD officers will continue to seek employment with agencies that recognize and respect their service, dedication, and well-being, further worsening the staffing crisis.
But Democrats in Charlotte immediately dismissed the idea. Mayor Vi Lyles said “I believe we have the ability in this community to make this a safer city. I believe we will not need the National Guard to come to Charlotte.” Lyles beliefs stand in stark contrast to the evidence of skyrocketing murders in Charlotte.
