Charlotte Police Hold Use Of Force Information Discussion

CHARLOTTE, NC — Following the fatal shooting of Ruben Galindo last month, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney is holding a community conversation on Thursday.

The conversation will focus on the police department's policies surrounding their use of force and citizens are welcomed to "participate in real, genuine conversations with community members," the police department's Facebook page said.

Galindo called the police, reports say, saying that he had a gun but no ammunition. He was on the phone with dispatch when the officers arrived, who shot him minutes later. He still had the gun in his hand as he was shot.

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Chief Putney has defended the officers, saying that Galindo's possession of a gun gave the cops reason to fear for their lives. “You are in possession of a gun that can kill our officers or someone else. Therefore, legally, you’re authorizing the use of lethal force,” he said, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The community discussion will be at the Camino Community Center at 133 Stetson Dr. at 6:30 p.m.

The CMPD added a Spanish-language sentence to their Facebook post, a sign that they are trying to reach out to the Latino community and get them to attend the event.

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