Chief Monroe Spins The Numbers on WBTV

Last week Cedar Posts noted the latest crime numbers compiled by CQ press showed Charlotte with a higher crime rate than major cities historically perceived as being high areas.

Cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Tonight on WBTV Chief Monroe gives an "exclusive interview" to Brigida Mack while spinning the numbers “his way”.

From WBTV:

The annual list is out: Charlotte is safer city now than it was just two years ago. That's according to the list of the most dangerous cities in America compiled by the CQ Press, a company that uses data from the FBI to determine the rankings.

The list shows the Queen city has dropped more than 50 spots since 2007. The city came in at 118 out of 274 for 2009. That's compared to being the 70th most dangerous city in 2008 and the 62nd in 2007.

Cedar Posts: Actually the list is of 400 cities nationwide.

WBTV: But Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe greets the news with measured optimism.

"They're still some communities here that we still have a lot of work to do," said Monroe. "One crime is always too many especially if you're the victim of that crime."

That said, he added they city should be proud of the work it's helped CMPD do.

The list tracked mostly violent crimes: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. But the number of burglaries and motor vehicle thefts were also factors.

Cedar Posts: Actually it is a lot more complicated than that. Unless you feel like plowing through CQ's excruciatingly detailed "methodology" PDF, here's the quickie interpretation of the ranking process: Each city is given a population-to-crime ratio, based on reported crimes of murder, rape, robbery, burglary and motor-vehicle theft, and arson. Those numbers are then slightly adjusted to account for severity of crime and significant rate of change from previous years.


Cedar Posts: After patting himself on the back he swiftly backs away by saying:

“The community must also realize this ranking isn't the only way we measure how safe Charlotte is.”

Cedar Posts: This is where the bullshit from Rodney Monroe gets unbearable.

Chief Monroe continued: "A community is more than a list." "A police department is more than a list. It's how we mesh all of those things together. Our strategies, our focus, our vision."
Monroe also said he expects the ranking to drop again for the 2011 list but cautions that seeing a decrease in crime will get harder as CMPD tries to top the success seen in recent years.

Cedar Posts: Clearly with the year nearly over Chief Monroe knows where the numbers are going. But the list also shows the continued trend in reduced crime nation wide so even swapping places with number 119 Everett, Washington is going to be hard but not nearly as hard as being just below the national average like Raleigh at 236.

The complete list is here and WBTV's report is here.

Cedar Posts get the last word: Major props to the boots on the street because it is not about numbers its about doing your job and doing exceedingly well.