Friday, June 26, 2015

Cedar Posts on Chief Monroe's Retirement

At lot of insight can be gained by how a man interacts with those he leads, the best leaders lead by example.

 

My grandfather was being shown around a new plant he was hired to run, when he asked about the older man pushing a broom. The young manager who was trying to impress his new boss explained "That's just Ben, he's nobody."

 

But my grandfather had noticed that Ben was pushing that broom with a glove on his left hand, but his right hand glove was tucked into his pocket.

 

My grandfather interrupted the young manager, walked over to the man, introduced himself and shook the laborer's hand. 

 

It was pretty clear to my grandfather that Ben just wanted to shake the new boss man's hand and he wanted to be ready if he came by. 

 

Truth is, Ben had worked at the plant for years and knew everything about the plant. Six months later he would save the jobs of nearly 500 of men by knowing how to bypass a broken standpipe valve during a fire that had started in a supply room. 

 

70 years later Rodney Monroe during his first few weeks on the job, walked past a CMPD sergeant. 

 

On the sleeve of the sergeant's deep blue uniform, seven service bars. Each representing five years of service on the streets of Charlotte, 35 years in total. The new chief glanced at the sergeant’s service stripes, the silver bar with his name and 1972 stamped on it and kept on walking. Not even bothering to saying hello.

 

Not surprisingly the first principle they teach at the United States Marine Corps Officer School is "lead by example".

 

The only time I’ve ever seen Chief Monroe lead by example was at the buffet line. I’m pretty sure the Marine Corps would frown on that, since I’ve never seen a Marine Officer eat before his men did. Four star general or otherwise.

 

Let's hope Chief Monroe enjoys his retirement. 



4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nicely said.

Anonymous said...

That's because he and Ray-Ray already knew how to police and they didn't need no stinkin advice on how to do it! Plus...that sergeant was white and RoMo ain't got no time for whitey! Well, Putney neither for that matter...

CMPD DIV 12 said...

I have served as a patrol officer for 15 years, I have seen the changes, I have felt the tension, the demand for more and more with less and less pay. I rode the elevator with Rodney at the LEC one day. I was going for a mail run for the first shift Sgt. I was already in the elevator when he came in. He looked up at me and glared. While another patrol officer came in he smiled and shook his hand. Asked how his children were. This Officer was black, and although I never thought that the color of our uniform would supersede the color of our skin I was mistaken. I saw black officers keep there jobs after being arrested. I saw black officers get promoted after being in the department for a year! The proof was when Rodney demanded to know the ratio of race before promoting or reassigning anyone. This is no longer Charlotte but a mirror image of Atlanta. What ever happened to Hasin Peterson? Was he not arrested for breaking in to a girlfriends house? Did Monroe not tell the observer he knew him well? Of course he did! Monroe will always be more black then he is blue. Bigots and racism is alive and well within the department. I am disgusted to wear a camera to prove that I treat ALL people fairly! Perhaps the Command staff should wear one while addressing patrol officers!
Get the hell out of my city Monroe! The observer said you were popular with the rank and file officers?!! you have destroyed our city, the department and worse divided our family. Go spread your napoleon complex to another town.

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