Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Charlotte Observer Finally Takes On Rodney Monroe, Curt Walton and Charlotte City Council

While the Charlotte Observer has been mute on covering the most recent news on Rodney Monroe and Marcus Jackson they did today finally speak up on the editorial front.

After months of jumping up and down on behalf of CMPD officers and Charlotte taxpayer's Cedar Posts is pleased that the paper which once was a major voice in Charlotte has finally spoken up.

Props to WFAE, Jeff Taylor of Meck Deck and the guys over at WBT for keeping the truth out in front.

I remember the Charlotte Observer back in the day when something like this would be front page news. But what the hey the editorial page is better than nothing and considering all the budget and staff cuts, I'm sure its the best they can do.

So here is the Charlotte Observer's Editorial:

Persistent questions in Marcus Jackson case

How did rogue officer stay on force as misdeeds multiplied?

Questions continue to mount about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The city's ongoing secrecy about a rogue former officer continues to fuel concerns about how Chief Rodney Monroe and other top leaders hire officers and discipline bad ones. Monroe should explain his department's performance to the public it serves. And City Manager Curt Walton and the City Council should stop sticking their heads in the sand, hoping the problem goes away.

It also raises questions about how forthright Monroe has been with the public. Did he know about Jackson's second recommended suspension when he publicly said he knew of only one suspension? Or did important information never get to him? The public can't know for sure, because the police haven't said, and the City Council hasn't told City Manager Walton to make Jackson's personnel file public. Either of those scenarios reflects poorly on CMPD.

Walton should not have let this situation fester. And by looking the other way, the City Council has failed to do its duty. The council chose not even to look at Jackson's personnel file in private. Instead, a majority of council members thought they could keep their hands clean by staying uninformed, and taking Walton's and Monroe's word that everything has been handled appropriately.

That see-no-evil ignorance is not bliss for a public that counts on council members to oversee city government. It is shameful.

You can and should read the entire editorial here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Folks here is the bottom line. Jackson should have been fired over lying about his speed and filing false documentation. Prior to Monroe becoming Chief, the policy of the CMPD was simply this...You lie and stick with that and you are fired, end of story. This would have been an easy decision. Jackson lies, not protected by Civil Service, ie probation, hit the highway dude. Not to mention you go to your estranged wife's house and kick the door down!!!! Again a crime and fireable offense yet not a damn thing happened to him. Any one else see a pattern here? Of course when the Chief is a liar what the hell do you expect. What a travesty to see CMPD going down the toilet and the City leaders just dont get it!!!!!

Anonymous said...

MONROE SHOULD BE FIRED FOR LYING. DOES THAT NOT APPLY TO HIM THE SAME WAY IT APPLIES TO EVERY OFFICER ON THE FORCE. HE TRYS TO PLAY DUMB AND ACT LIKE HE DOESNT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. THE SAME WAY WITH HIS FAKE COLLEGE DEGREE. DO YOU SEE THE PATERN

Anonymous said...

ignorance is no defense in criminal law that should also apply to a chief running a department.

Anonymous said...

It's clear that Rodney Monroe lied, and it should be just as clear that he l. Should be Fired or 2. Should have the integrity to resign, as all his credibility is GONE, KAPUT, ZERO!.

The interview Keith Larson did with Warren Turner was freaking FANTASTIC!!

Finally, he was TRYING to pin down what Turner thought, although Turner was as slippery as an eel.
Turner NEVER ANSWERED THE DIRECT QUESTIONS KEITH WAS FIRING AT HIM.

Honestly, are these the people we want representing us, at CMPD OR on City Council??

If Rodney Monroe is allowed to continue as Chief of Police of CMPD, then our system is seriously FLAWED, and dare I say, CORRUPT?

Playing dumb DOES NOT CUT IT, burying your head in the sand, DOES NOT CUT IT, IGNORING THE SITUATION IN HOPES THAT IT GOES AWAY, DOES NOT CUT IT.

We should DEMAND honesty and integrity and a code of ethics from all of our government leaders in Charlotte.....but HAVING A CHIEF OF POLICE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE NO MORAL CENTER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

We do deserve much better than that.

Everyone makes mistakes, but when they are continuous mistakes in judgment and show a definite lack of honesty, there is no "getting over" that, as it shows PATTERN AND PRACTICE, folks, a pattern of behavior and a practice of behavior.

It is, frankly, INEXCUSABLE.

JAT said...

I predict that by next week we'll have some sort of task force or commission set up to "investigate" this matter.

If not city council is going to have to keep spinning and ducking in order to avoid firing someone.

Anonymous said...

JAT, Great article!!

You are correct, City Council can no longer pretend to not know what has happened with the Marcus Jackson case.

How can they? Why would they continue to protect Curt Walton and Rodney Monroe?

Better to demand the truth at SOME point, even if they made a serious mistake in turning away from this in hopes that it would "just go away".

It's clearly NOT GOING AWAY.

It they don't take action, and do it quickly, and I'm not talking about burying it in some "committee" in hopes once again it will go away, if they don't take action NOW, they are guilty of conspiring to cover up the truth.

And I can't wait to see how that plays out in a civil trial.