This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which the men and women of CMPD past and present marked with events throughout the first week of October.
The centerpiece of the celebration featured at One Independence Center, where the CMPD Expo & Historical Museum honored 30 years of combined service and excellence.
The expo featured more than 160 years of memorabilia and artifacts of policing in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, spanning from the 1860s to present day.
Additional events throughout the week included an employee appreciation lunch and alumni reunion and tour of the Historical Museum.
The anniversary celebration also featured the “College to Cop” Program, during which CMPD hosted students from Clemson University, and a CMPD Family Day celebration.
Prior to the early 1990s, the city and county departments were separate. The Charlotte Police Department (CPD) was created after the Civil War. The Mecklenburg County Police Department (MCPD) began within the sheriff’s office in 1917 and became independent in 1925.
On Oct. 1, 1993, the Charlotte Police Department and the Mecklenburg County Police Department merged to become what is now the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, creating a more robust department with increased resources to serve the Charlotte region.
In addition to special events throughout the anniversary week, CMPD released a four-part documentary series on the merger, with commentary from Chief Jennings and former chiefs.
“This week we’re celebrating 30 years of combined agencies and I’m nostalgic thinking back to when I started my career with the Charlotte Police Department,” said CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings.
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