Charlotte, NC  May 16, 2013 --Over 300 gathered to toast the achievements of the Charlotte, North Carolina Outstanding police officers at the 34th Annual Charlotte Police Community Service Awards. A packed crowd applauded officers during the banquet and program held at NoDA's Center Stage, an elegant facility east of downtown.

​       Twenty uniformed officers were presented with awards for their individual service and merit, as judged by the hundreds of nominations from citizens across the community. They were lauded for working diligently with youth, for taking extra time to see that touchy situations were handled correctly, for providing a helping hand in very important and difficult situations--in short, for taking the time and giving from their heart to make Charlotte's communities better places to live and work.

        The awards are part of the ongoing work of the Charlotte Community Relations Office and Committee, located in the Old City Hall in downtown Charlotte. It was the 34th annual awards

program this year. The Community Relations Committee handles landlord/tenant mediation, fair housing and public accommodations, disability issues, worthless check mediation, and many issues related to discrimination.

        Master of ceremonies was Pat Taft, chair, Police Awards subcommittee CCRC; event coordinator was Donna Murrell, CCRC staff, under the direction of Willie Ratchford, director of the CCRC.