CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A year after George Floyd's murder, a Charlotte police officer is reflecting on what has changed with police work in the city.

In 2019, CMPD Officer Darrion Eichelberger left the force. Eichelberger said he felt he was done and was tired of handling the stress of the job.

So, he watched from the sidelines in the summer of 2020 as America, and specifically CMPD, reacted to protests of George Floyd’s death.

It spurred him to return to the badge.

What You Need To Know

  • CMPD is still in the process of working with a consulting group on changes to interactions with the public

  • CMPD says it has never condoned the knee to the neck technique

  • CMPD says it is in compliance with "8 Can't Wait"

“When you’re not able to get out there and be a part of the change or the solution, then that’s where it gets to a point where, ‘Man, my hands are tied,'” Eichelberger explained.

So, he returned to the force, was retrained and has a new patrol.

He said he was inspired to return by his desire to help be part of change or solutions, as well as the number of good cops he felt were leaving the job.

With his rekindled passion, Eichelberger said he approaches his police work like running a ministry.

"You’re seeing people at their absolute worst and you have that ability to put a smile on their face. Not everybody’s gonna smile, but, at the same time, you have that ability — maybe it’s cracking a joke with them or lightening the load,” Eichelberger added.

Eichelberger patrols the CMPD Providence division, which operates in neighborhoods like Myers Park, Oakhurst and Foxcroft, according to CMPD’s website.

But a new patrol zone is not the only change since he returned after Floyd’s death in 2020.

Eichelberger said there were spots of new emphasis when he was retrained.

"I think it’s really been the same, but it’s more or less looking at what we can do to de-escalate before we have to start climb — going down that list on that continuum,” Eichelberger said.

Not to mention, with modern cell phones and heightened awareness of interactions with police, Eichelberger added now there’s always someone watching.

"If you know that you do good work and if you know that you’re not going out here messing up, or cussing or saying stuff crazy, then you shouldn’t have to worry about it,” he said.

CMPD is in the process of creating a new approach, along with an outside consulting group, to CMPD’s interactions with the public, according to Lt. Stephen Fischbacher.

He also said CMPD already practices community policing, is in compliance with "8 Can’t Wait," and has never condoned the knee to the neck technique.

It’s all part of the changing landscape of police work one year after the killing of George Floyd.