CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Violent crime was down and officer accountability was up in 2018 in the Queen City.

Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenbrug Police Chief Kerr Putney held his annual year in review meeting to discuss the highs and lows of 2018. CMPD says overall, violent crime was down 3 percent, with the total number of homicides at 57 in 2018. This is down 35 percent from 2017.

Officers did see a slight increase in car thefts and aggravated assaults.

IMPORTANT STATS:

• Overall crime down 2 percent​
• Aggravated assaults up 3 percent
• Vehicle Thefts up 11 percent
• Officer complaints down 7 percent
• 82 percent of officer complaints were internal
• Total homicides: 57
• Arrests: 17,000
• Officer-involved shootings: 5

Chief Putney says there was a big focus on accountability within the department, and he has the numbers to prove it. 

He says there were 134 officer complaints, and 110 of those were officers holding each other accountable, which shows a culture shift in the department. 

"What it shows me is there’s a culture of doing things the right way, and doing it with the right people, and getting the right people in the first place, then making sure they are charged with maintaining that culture," he said. "I’d be embarrassed if those numbers changed under my tenure. I would have failed not only the organization, but the city, and I’d be embarrassed as a chief.”

Members of the Citizens Review Board praised the renewed focus on accountability.

"You hear about 'Oh they're not going to say anything because they're another policeman.' Well they do say things, and they do have to be accountable for their actions," Sandra Donaghy said.

Chief Putney also says the complaints against officers dropped 7 percent in 2018.