Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Charlotte's Police Chief Exposed!

The black Ford Crown Victoria pulls out of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Law Enforcement center, its windows blacked out and the driver unseen; although unmarked it has all the indications of a police cruiser.



The Ford speeds up Charlotte’s Trade Street and rounds the corner heading towards 5th Street. A few seconds later the car parks in a blocked off lane marked with several signs that declare the area off limits except to Police cars. A dozen or so patrons crossing the street detour around the idling police car, as the barely visible occupant chats away on his cell phone.

The specially ordered new black Ford LTD, shipped in from California, belongs to Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe and he's parked just a few feet away from the doors of the Time Warner Arena.



A minute later he steps briskly against the cold January air, darting inside the arena, he doesn’t have time to acknowledge the two patrolmen who are paid time and a ½ by the city to secure the area outside on this cold night, with a glace at his watch and he notes its almost tip off time.

This is where Charlotte's highest ranking police officer will spend the next four hours on "unofficial business" because Chief Monroe may be a scratch handicap golfer but he really likes basketball.

During the game he roams freely among the paid uniformed officers who are hired by the Bobcats organization to provide security for each game. But Chief Monroe is neither hired help, or on city business, nor does he buy a ticket, he's just there.

As the Bobcats struggle against the Lakers, Monroe walks along the sidelines, and roams the skyboxes, shaking hands with coaches and NBA stars, politicians and corporate leaders. He'll spend much of the game just inside the tunnel, somewhat out of the public view but rubbing shoulders with the NBA elite. After the game he stops to speak with a few of the dozen or so patrolmen and sergeants who work the game.



A couple hours later the Bobcats have sadly put another game in the "lost" column. Most of the crowd departed at the last call for beer, those who stayed are already drifting toward the doors at the final buzzer and Chief Monroe calls it a night.

Outside it has turned colder, the smell of city buses pushing up the grade toward Tryon Street fills the winter air. Other than the frequent wooosh of a passing bus, it is quiet tonight, just the way a police chief would like it.

His relationship with the men in uniform at the Bobcats Arena is tepid at best, in part because one of his many new directives, issued in September reduced the hours these policemen can work off duty from 58 hours to 32.

Despite the fact that most CMPD officers who work second jobs average only 28 hours per week, there was considerable outrage that the “new” chief would try to limit their earning potential.

Being a patrolman with a family in Charlotte means either you work a “secondary” job, or your family does without.

The list of changes put in place by Chief Monroe is long and in many cases these changes have disrupted for better or worse a culture that has been in place for many years. However, it is not unusual for a new Police Chief to put his mark on a department and most officers expected to see some change.

But change just for the sake of shaking things up, is unwelcome.

Gone is the open line of communication between the police chief and the officers in the field, in its place is a very small group who control access, and make recommendations to Chief Monroe.

It was this small group who floated the idea of limiting secondary job hours, to which later the Chief was surprised by the sudden uproar. Since the directive was put in place Chief Monroe has done nothing to rescind or modify the directive.

Detectives once assigned cars now must rely on a pool of cars, confusion runs rampant as often there are no cars to be found so detectives must work from a desk until a car is returned, and can continue their investigation.

Without the dialogue, morale at the department has fallen to a low that seems to reflect the economy.

While the open door policy of prior chiefs is gone, in its place there is Chief Monroe who shows up at nearly every major crime scene, and who considers himself as the principle media contact, while certainly more visible than his predecessors he is also very aloof.

Family Matters

Across town a young unwed mother, picks up her crying baby under the watchful eye of the baby's grandmother. The proud grandmother is Marvette Monroe and baby’s mother is Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe's daughter and former Elon College student, Hollye.

Monroe and his wife have been married 27 years and Marvette Monroe has enjoyed a successful career in financial services and even served on several boards during her stay in Richmond. But she has kept a fairly low profile since arriving in Charlotte, in part due to her new role as grandmother.

Hidden from the public eye the Monroe’s enjoy a typical family life filled with worries and concerns for the future of their children. So it comes as no surprise that Chief Monroe would want the best for his grandson, even if that apparently means bending the rules to help his daughter's boyfriend and father of his grandson, David McCallum get a job with the Charlotte Police Department.

McCallum is considered a new hire. But most new hires don't start to collect a CMPD pay check until the next training class begins. So Chief Monroe has arranged for a civilian job for the time being.

Rumors abound and reports have surfaced that not only has McCallum been given the privilege of a “take home car” but that his Virginia Drivers license is suspended. It is unclear if he has a North Carolina license, yet he drives throughout Charlotte with the Chief’s blessing, and of course these rumors add to a sense of distrust among the CMPD rank and file.

But According to Channel 36 WNBC's Stuart Watson "Blog Rumor: CMPD Chief Monroe's "son-in-law" has suspended/revoked license. Truth: out-of-state license is valid." Which begs the next question aren't you supposed to have a North Carolina license within 90 days?

Charlotte's new Chief of Police may not yet be well liked around Charlotte but his son Brandon is popular and is making his own mark down in Georgia.

Currently attending Georgia Tech, Brandon is president of the Nu Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha a national fraternity. Brandon was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in the area until age 15, when Chief Monroe and his family moved to Macon, Georgia, there Brandon finished high school.

At Georgia Tech he is a 5th year Civil and Environmental Engineering Major and currently serves on the Student Alumni Association as well as the Allocations Committee.

Being the son of a Police Chief has its perks like free bullet proof vests and riot gear for all of your fraternity brothers to party with.







But it is not all chilling and partying at Georgia Tech, Brandon has interned with Prime Engineering, Inc and with Goldman Sachs in their Private Wealth Management Division. Brandon also serves on the Georgia Tech Student Foundation board of trustees and is Co-Finance Chair for the African American Student Union.

The Monroes also raised Stephanie Ridge whose mother died several years ago. Stephanie married Anthony Milton in April of 2006 and the couple now resides in the Washington area.

The Douglas Wilder Connection

In On May 30, 2004, former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder announced his intention to run for Mayor of Richmond. Until 2003, the Richmond City Council chose the mayor from among its 9 members.

On November 2, 2004, Wilder received 79% of the vote (55,319 votes) to become the first directly elected Mayor of Richmond in sixty years. Upon winning the election, Wilder communicated his intentions of aggressively taking on corruption in the city government by issuing several ultimatums to the sitting City Council even before he took office.

In the cross hairs was Richmond's chief of Police Andre Parker, who left the post a month after Wilder won the election. Wilder held a surprising amount of disdain for Parker and made it clear he would replace him.



On February 7, 2005 Wilder's long time friend Rodney Monroe became Richmond's new police chief during a ceremony held on the campus of Virginia Union University.

Macon Left in the Dust

Monroe had spent the prior three years as police chief of Macon, Georgia a stint that left the city of Macon, dealing with a Federal investigation over the misuse of federal grant money.

Monroe dismissed concerns by pointing out that the grant was in place before he arrived and was administered by Kelly High-Foster, a police department finance officer under Monroe, and Albert Stokes, who was the department's point man for the Safe Schools Initiative. Both Foster and Stokes went with Monroe to Richmond.



Richmond Another Beginning

Monroe's Richmond swearing-in was hailed as a new beginning for Richmond by Wilder.

Wilder referred to Monroe's hiring as an important part in bringing about a new era in Richmond, saying, "This is a time of a new awakening, a new birth, something we can not only look to with pride, but point to with achievement."

Within months of Monroe's arrival Wilder would begin a campaign to have Monroe awarded a college degree from VCU.

And Chief Monroe would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mayor as his honor tried to physically remove the Richmond School Board from City Hall. The show down came to a head on September 21, 2007 when Richmond Police officers under the direction of Chief Monroe surrounded city hall blocking access to the offices to board members and media. See: Monroe's Police Department Seals Off City Hall.

The school board dust up and Wilder's demise meant Monroe's days in Richmond were numbered.

In the end according to Richmond's WTVY "It's no coincidence that Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and police Chief Rodney Monroe announced their departures practically on the same day.

Apparently, they could've held a joint press conference, since their decisions were tightly linked, according to political analyst Bob Holsworth, who has been in their inner circle.

Since Monroe took office in February 2005, the two men have been "joined pretty tightly together," Holsworth said. The mayor and chief had become personal friends and allies. As Wilder's decision not to run again took shape, Monroe firmed up his travel plans, telling Charlotte he'd take the job they had been offering him for months."

"I'm not seeking reelection, the chief and I have a very close relationship so consequently he's going to Charlotte," said Wilder.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Douglas Wilder serves on many boards and foundations associated with Virginia Commonwealth University. The University named its School of Government and Public Affairs in honor of L. Douglas Wilder in 2004. Wilder also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the school. The Virginia Union University library, Norfolk State University's performing arts center and a Hampton University dormitory is also named after Mr. Wilder. Wilder also received an Honorary Doctorate from Arizona State University in 2004.

It was Wilder who suggested that Monroe transfer to VCU and seek a Bachelor degree.

Monroe had attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Executive Institute, and he has taken several undergraduate college courses in criminal justice through the Phoenix on line University.

Richmond unlike Charlotte does not have its own police academy. Instead, local and state law enforcement agencies send recruits to VCU with Richmond holding classes at Virginia Union.

But Virginia Commonwealth University would give Monroe the credentials he has lacked to further his career.

Soon after Rodney Monroe began the interview process in Charlotte news began to leak out concerning his VCU degree.

In May 2008, an anonymous email known as the Harry Potter letter, led to an investigation that discovered VCU awarded an undergraduate degree to Chief Rodney Monroe after he received just 6 credits from the University, with the bulk of his credits taken through the online University of Phoenix and the FBI Academy.

On May 16, 2008 with the Rodney Monroe scandal unfolding Mayor Wilder announced he would not seek reelection.

"I would like to thank all of those who have supported me - from the business community to our regional colleagues to all of our citizens of every walk of life and stripe - for their continued encouragement and commitment,'' he wrote. "There is a new spirit within the city that we have turned the corner since 2005 and are reaching our potential to be all that we can be. We will continue to move our city forward, as we have done and there will be no interruption in our goals or our determination to so do."

When news of the Harry Potter email, the VCU investigation and questions about Chief Monroe's resume' became news, Charlotte officials considered the news unsubstantiated and pressed forward with naming Rodney Monroe to the position of Chief.

Meanwhile is Richmond the finger pointing began. See: Wilder, City Council At Odds Over Chief Monroe
On June 2, 2008 Mayor L. Douglas Wilder issued the following angry statement:

“It has been brought to my attention that there have been allegations about Chief Monroe’s degree from VCU. I have never responded to anonymous critics and would not be doing so now, other than to stand up for a good man.

“I know that Chief Monroe has done absolutely nothing but what was required of him by the officials at VCU and no official has said otherwise. He was personally recognized by the VCU President at his graduation last year who said that his was an example that others should follow in seeking to further their education.

“It is saddening to see one who has given so much to his community be attacked with smear and innuendo and possible illegal actions."

“This ridiculous nonsense should never have gone to this extent and those who have hidden behind anonymity should be held accountable. Stand up or Shut up!

“I say, ‘Hail to Our Chief,’ and I know the citizens of Richmond will be expecting the quickest and just resolution of this matter by VCU with appropriate commendation to our Chief.”



Six months later a report issued to Virginia Commonwealth’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges, noted that Rodney Monroe, now the chief of police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, did not meet the commission’s 25-percent rule where 30 credit hours — or 25 percent — of a student’s undergraduate coursework must be completed on the campus of the college granting the degree.

Instead, Monroe was allowed to transfer a full 118 credit hours from the University of Phoenix and the FBI Academy toward the 120-credit requirement for graduation.

Monroe was awarded the degree in 2007, having only satisfied 15 of the 28 academic requirements needed to earn a degree in interdisciplinary studies, and that the degree could not have been properly awarded “unless this student had been afforded preferential treatment at the admissions, curriculum, and graduation stages of the student experience.”

After a thorough review of its degree-conferral practices, Virginia Commonwealth University concluded that only two of 15,000 undergraduate degrees were improperly awarded since 2003, one degree was awarded to Rodney Monroe the other was awarded posthumously.

Virginia Commonwealth maintains that its degree-conferral standards still meet accredited requirements, but may still be subject to sanctions if the commission finds that the school has not taken enough steps to prevent a recurring incident.

In the report, VCU admitted to making a total of 37 exceptions to university policy in granting an undergraduate degree to Monroe, unlike other cases of improperly awarded degrees, VCU did not rescind the degree.

Monroe, 51, was allowed to keep the degree because there is no policy that allows for revocation except for academic misconduct.

But the outrage continued with a long winded missive known as the David Baldacci Letter Baldacci is a graduate of VCU and New York Times Best Selling Author.

Heads Roll at VCU

The coordinator of the program through which Chief Monroe received his bachelor's degree says she argued from the start that he should have received his degree from the University of Phoenix, not Virginia Commonwealth University.

Linda L. Spinelli, who retired in May of 2008 as the degree investigation began, said that she objected from the moment she received Monroe's transcripts from her supervisor, Jon Steingass, who was then dean of University College.

"Immediately I recognized that although Mr. Monroe had plenty of acceptable transfer credits, he would need to earn 30 from VCU," said Spinelli, who was coordinator of the bachelor of interdisciplinary studies program.

She said she informed Steingass of the problem that same day.

But through his attorney, Steingass yesterday said he wasn't initially informed of Monroe's VCU credit deficiency. He also said he never personally gave Monroe's transcripts to Spinelli. "If [the investigators] have the transcripts, they ought to see whose fingerprints are on it," Richmond lawyer Jay J. Levit added.

Steingass resigned during the investigation into how Monroe was awarded a degree after receiving only six credit hours from VCU, when he should have taken 30 credit hours to fulfill VCU's residency requirement and its accreditation standards.

Spinelli described the chain of events that led to the degree in an account addressed to Dan Ream, president of VCU's faculty senate. Her account was sent anonymously to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and its contents were confirmed yesterday by Spinelli.

Read the full story at: Richmond Times-Dispatch.

In total, five high-ranking administrative officials resigned some vocally in protest of the investigation itself due to threats made against the tenure status of one professor if she did not cooperate and other high-pressure tactics.

Charlotte Welcomes the New Chief

Rodney D. Monroe was appointed Police Chief of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department on June 16, 2008 by City Manager Curt Walton. Chief Monroe now leads the largest municipal police department in the state of North Carolina with 1,650 sworn and 450 civilian members.

When Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton announced that Monroe would be hired after a five-month comprehensive search process he pointed out that Monroe was the ideal choice, beating out a canidate from Atlanta and one from within the Charlotte Police Department.

"Rodney Monroe personified every aspect of the ideal Police Chief especially as a strong communicator, said City Manager Curt Walton. "He also has an extraordinary passion for law enforcement and prevention that makes a community a better place to live."

Sgt. David Childress, president of the Richmond Coalition of Police, has few words about Chief Monroe's departure in short;Don't Let the Door …

But the first challenge of Chief Monroe was not a major crime spree, but events unfolding 100s of miles away on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. After many weeks of silence Charlotte’s new Police Chief spoke to reporters about the VCU investigation.



The full text of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Monroe addressing the VCU statements regarding his bogus degree here: The Charlotte Observer

Additional Reporting from The Charlotte Observer

Meanwhile the citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina wait and hope. They hope that Monroe can help stem the flood of crime that has over taken the once quiet southern center of financial power.



Yet questions remain, as to why a Police Department that passes over career officers for positions such as Major, Captain and Chief should they be without a four year college degree would offer the highest job to Monroe if his degree was in question.

Charlotte's City Manager responded to the news by stating to the nature of it being a “sad distraction” at this moment in time. And noted that there was no intention “what-so-ever addressing if Charlotte is going to take any actions” regarding the same.

More Questions

Out of State lateral transfers into the Charlotte Police Department are covered under a strict set of rules, including a minimum of a 3 1/2 week training course in order to be a state certified law enforcement officer. Nearly nine months into the job and Chief Monroe has yet to complete basic training and become North Carolina certified.

Not a big deal for a bureaucrat, but if “hands on” law enforcement is really what Chief Monroe is about he better be certified or any of his actions in the field will come under fire from creative defense attorneys.

Furthermore, Chief Monroe is apparently being investigated as to why he reportedly broke the rules regarding City of Richmond tuition reimbursements to University of Phoenix and VCU. Allegedly he put his tuitions on a city credit card in full in advance of all classes. The rules say employees must front the monies for courses and be reimbursed up to a stated limit per course or semester upon successful completion, meaning probably earning a C or better.

It is general knowledge that Chief Monroe also slightly embellished his resume by stating his degree was in criminal justice, when in fact it was issued as an “interdisciplinary studies” or, a generic degree which is only supposed to be offered according to VCUs rules/guidelines if a student needs a curriculum NOT otherwise offered. Criminal Justice is a legitimate course of study at VCU and apparently that is what Monroe wanted to claim to have earned.

There are also considerable questions regarding the way Charlotte is now reporting property crimes. In the past a string of break-ins were reported case by case, address by address. A car broken into and a garage door pried open in the past would generate two police reports. Under the chief’s directive, officers are required to consolidate reports. A rash of car vandalism could be a dozen separate acts but might be reported as only one incident. This would cause the reported crime rate to plummet.

Rodney Monroe is either a very creative cheat, who was outed by "Harry Potter" yet managed to beat out several more qualified applicants or he's a very talented police chief.

In the end the only concern is how well are the citizens of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County being served?

The measure of success is not just a perceived reduction in reported crime, or cooking the books to show shocking drops in crime, as low morale and high turn over within the CMPD is just as costly and unatractive.

What will really determine if Chief Monroe's tenure is productive is how safe we feel after dark in our own neighborhoods.

We can only hope Chief Monroe lives up to his inflated resume' and the men and women of the CMPD discover a true leader, and not just a basketball fan.

UPDATE:

The week after this post was made the Charlotte Observer ran a story (Cause of Big Dip in Crime Debated) telling of Charlotte's sharp decline in crime.

Chief Monroe as expected crediting his management style and increase patrol with more blue on the streets.

And his critics claiming he's cooking the books.


Odd Little Bits of Trivia

The majority of VCU is located at Monroe Park.

Monroe Park is a 7.5 acre landscaped park located 1 mile northwest of the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Virginia. It is named after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States and not Chief Monroe

A favorite eatery located at the Monroe Park Campus is ironically called Rodney's.

VCU Police Chief Willie B. Fuller, was arrested last week and charged with trying to solicit sex with a minor via the internet.

Fuller claims a degree from VCU - the same kind of degree awarded to former Police Chief Rodney Monroe.

Unlike former Chief Monroe, who was given a VCU degree after taking just six credit hours there, Fuller earned all of his required credits at VCU, the source said.

Fuller's Facebook and MySpace pages reveal a police chief who, under his own name, wrote about his love of women and his appreciation for a song about strippers.

Chesterfield police allege Fuller, using the screen name hotcop2006, solicited sex from a police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

GET A LIFE...DO SOME REAL RESEARCH...LOSER!!

Rea Road Neighborhood Coalition said...

The "Get A Life" Poster from Midlothian, Virginia has a bone to pick but gives no clue as to his complaint.

I'm left to assume the comment is more with regards to Willy Fuller aka HotCop2006, the perv pedo sicko busted for trying to hook up with a 14 year old girl.

Can you say "I'm Chris Hanson with Date Line and I'd like to ask you a few questions?

Anonymous said...

Ha! You got it wrong Cedar! Monroe only asked for 125 new officers!

Proves you don't know anything!

Anonymous said...

thats 125 this year and 125 next year...

Anonymous said...

Excellent Blog!!
And all true, very true!

Anonymous said...

Cedar I know you're not s CMPD cop so what's the deal why do you have it in for the new chief?

Rea Road Neighborhood Coalition said...

I don't have it in for the new chief, and I hold nothing but great admiration for anyone who puts on a CMPD uniform and deals with low life on a daily basis.

Now to those who have posted really nasty comments about the Chief, you'll notice they are gone. Please don't make me become a full time hall monitor.

Tackless name calling is not going to change anything. Take me to task if you like, call me out on anything you think is out of line.

But don't disparage Chief Monroe as it dilutes in creditability of the blog to the point where it becomes nothing more than graffiti.

Anonymous said...

GOING BACK TO THE TAKE HOME CAR, YOU KNOW THE 350Z...WHERE IS IT BEING HIDDEN

Anonymous said...

Great Story...All True...I live it...The chief has no integrity.

You need to research more about Dapper Ray-Ray.

Check Maintenance records on the 350z. He burned the clutch out and it had to be replaced. He was rumored to have got caught racing it.

Anonymous said...

Are you jealous of the Charlotte Police Chief? He is doing great work in Charlotte, NC crime is down. That's the GOAL...

Anonymous said...

Who said crime is down? The chief? He told...us...crime...is down. He also tracks his own numbers. How can you argue with that logic?

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised no one has mentioned how he had an on-duty patrol officer drive his new assitant and her kids around Charlotte house shopping; while in a marked patrol car.

Also, how about CMPD's VCAT unit not being "diverse enough" and a new round of selections being conducted? Of course, this new round of selections didn include a try-out process like previous selections for the unit have had.

Anonymous said...

Hey Cedar, how about looking into Rodney using his city credit card to purchase (8) pancake breakfasts when his department heads can't even buy ink pens. Also, you need to check into why the CMPD recruiting officers were transfered to patrol after one of them refused to hire "Rodney's daughter's babys daddy". This was right after Rodney told them that they would hire his future son n law even though he doesn't have a NC license. It will not be long before Rodney brings down the integrity of CMPD. As a matter of fact, it's already happening.

Anonymous said...

check out the new Internal Affairs selection......they ranked the people that put in and asked for their #1 selection.........only for Chief Monroe to say no, you will take ***** instead, who was at the bottom of the list. All supervisors in the unit are shocked and discouraged.
Also look at the number of recently promoted sgts and which were given a 2nd floor jobs....which was beyond rare before this chief--you always had to go to patrol first....there is one thing in common.

Anonymous said...

CHARLOTTE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME ANYTIME AN AFRICAN AMERICAN TAKES A POSITION OF POWER THEY WILL ENDLESSLY DIG UP DIRT TO MAKE THEM OU TO BE A BAD PERSON. IT SHOWS THE NEW SOUTH IS JUST THE OLD SOUTH COVERED WITH SMILES.... FROM CHEIF MONROE TO GLORIA PACE AS A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDYING LAW TO BECOME A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IT MAKES ME LEERY TO THINK OF IF I STAY IN CHARLOTTE WHAT LIES WOULD BE TOLD ABOUT ME. AND I'VE LEAD A PRETTY SIMPLE LIFE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 8 YEARS, GOT MARRIED AND HAD KIDS BUT I AM SURE CHARLOTTEANS WOULD FIND SOMETHING OBJECTIONABLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT....JUST LIKE MICHELLE OBAMAS ARMS ... IT'S REALLY DISCOURAGING EVERYONE SAYS AMERICA IS READY FOR CHANGE I KNOW HERE IN CHARLOTTE THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT!! WHY IS IT WE DON'T SEE WEBSITES ON OTHER WHITE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ALL THEIR DIRTY LITTLE DEEDS???

Anonymous said...

11:49 The problem lies with the fact that he is an African American that has been GIVEN A LOT...he did not earn anything. Turns out hes corrupt...that is the problem. And you know what else...there is thousands of blogs and forums out on on other leaders/politician regardless of race. I really supported this guy at the beginning....you have to be a fool to read through this blog and not realize how corrupt this guy is...or has the potential of being. I do not understand individuals that think such as you do....IMO

Anonymous said...

ALL I SEE IS OPINIONS AND HEARSAY SHOW ME REAL EVIDENCE...

Anonymous said...

The evidence is there, everyone is to scared to bring it forward. They do not want this to turn into a nick mackey situation. The reporter that exposed him (a black male reporter) was torn a new one for doing it. But he did the RIGHT thing. Someone needs to do the RIGHT thing now.

Anonymous said...

Race should not be an issue. If he is not qualified he should leave. If he is qualified he should stay......hes not qualified and hes staying??? I do not fully understand. Can somebody please explain? And the fact that crime is down nationwide does not suffice as an argument that he is qualified.

Anonymous said...

?

Anonymous said...

Is it true that the Chief's future son-in-law was arrested recently for not paying child support in the amount of $12,000. He was taken to GA and had to serve 4 days for not supporting his child. As a result he was removed from the Police Academy for the arrest and time missed. However, he was given a job in the police property control and is planning on joining the next police academy. Is all of this true?

Anonymous said...

To the author: why can't you get this out to more of Charlotte??? Rodney Monroe is preparing CMPD for nothing short of a mutiny! Morale is at an all time low and thing show no signs of improvement. I followed the link to the article titled "Union Head to Cheif Monroe: Don't Let the Door..." and I was astounded at how he can't seem to learn his lesson. The same issues he caused in Virginia, he's causing here. All the so called rumors involving his son-in-law are true. The most shocking involve his being given the Nissan 350z that was seized in a Vice/HITS sting, which now sits at the Seigle Ave shop w/ a burned out clutch. How about Cheif Monroe going forward with the multi-million dollar RAC program, complete with their take home cars, that WAS NOT approved by the city council. We have patrol officers that are running way below minimum staffing and response times are going up because he's alotting more slots for community coordinators and his prized 'Focus Mission Teams.' Why does Cheif Monroe continue to be the first chief that absolutely refuses to attend the academy and get his certification, just like his degree, huh? And most off all, why is the city of Charlotte losing out on having most qualified officers in every position just for the sake of diversity? Chief Monroes says that every unit must be a certain percentage minority and to see to it, he and his chief of staff (another position that he created that no other chief has had that Rodney had to elimate three public affairs positions just to afford), now personally oversee every promotion and transfer, and are no longer requiring resumes and interest letters so that no one can claim that the person that got the position was less qualified. There have been several processes at the Academy, VCAT, and so forth that the chief has scrubbed at the last minute and started a whole new process, just to hand pick someone...who each time has turned out to be one of his go to guys (all minorities). I have nothing against diversity (and I've already read comments that we're just hating on Rodney Monroe because he's African American), but I know officers that have been passed over for positions that they were well qualified for, just for the chief to hand pick someone that did not even apply for the job to start off with. Why do the rest of the citizens of Charlotte not know of any of this?

Anonymous said...

Get used to this guys, he will promote problems that will screw your city up for years.

Anonymous said...

Rodney Monroe hired members of the Nuwaubian sect to serve on the Macon Georgia Police Dept.Their leader was "Malichi York" a convicted child molester being investigated by the FBI. He new this but refused to do anything about it. He ran the Macon Police Dept into the ground with the help of some hand picked people who would do anything for him. It will take Macon 20 years to get that dept on the right track. He was hired by a black mayor who wanted a black police chief.That was all he brought to the table. Both failed the city of Macon

Anonymous said...

Rodney Monroe is afraid of the older officers, because they can see straight through him. He will do what ever it takes to get rid of them. He will surround himself with "yes people". He will move on in three years because the B.S. can only take him so far. The problem is he will destroy the lives of some very good officers before he is discovered for what he is.

Anonymous said...

Is there anyone out there who knows for a fact about the demographic make up requirements the King is asking about????

Anonymous said...

i am not sure if this is what you want, but I posted a comment aout a court case on the walk of shame page. In there there was something requiring 20% african american sargents and how they were to promote these guys. long story short, this was from the 70s and in 1993 some officers got together and sued the city for being passed while hiring lesser qualified applicants due to race. the court ruled for the plaintiffs and basically stated

the inclusion of race as a promotional criterion damages departmental morale and the quality of work of all officers. The record evidence demonstrates ... "that a police officer's effectiveness, as a professional law enforcement officer both within the department and the community in which he serves, is dependent upon his education, skill, training, attitude and sense of professionalism. The unalterable pigment of his skin has no bearing on these facts and neither enhances nor depreciates his professional enforcement effectiveness."

you can see the link at the comments section on that page, but since it was a cmpd court case/ ruling, I am sure it stands.

hope that helps

Anonymous said...

Thank you - yes It does help

Anonymous said...

This story was so long I could only skim a few lines. one of the things tat stood out to me was the opening about his cruiser and going to a bobcats game. I could care less. And then the next thing I noticed was they menitoned his wife was successful in the financial industry and he had a normal homelife and it started crtiicizing it because according to the article that is aluxurwy other cops don't have. I had to stop there. Last time I came on this site people were complaining that tax payers had to pay for stripes embroidered on his uniform. I don't car if any of these accusations are true. They are so small and trivial. No one is perfet even the chief of police. And if he's doing his job and fighting crime, I really don't care f the thread content of his underwear. These accusations are nit picking