Today, the jury in the Randall Kerrick trial did not reach a unanimous verdict. I want to thank the countless professionals who responded to the scene of this incident on September 14, 2013, and have worked it tirelessly since that night. The time that has passed since that date has been challenging to CMPD and has cast an enormous spotlight on our agency, our policies, and our people. We have faced those challenges head on and will continue to do so.
This was a tragic event that changed the lives of many, both in the community and within our CMPD family. The decision to arrest and charge Randall Kerrick was not made unilaterally, nor did it occur in a vacuum. It was a painful but necessary decision reached by people both within the CMPD and in consultation with the District Attorney’s office. This decision was based on the facts of the case which led to probable cause, according to North Carolina state statute.
As police officers, we must abide by the law and be responsible for our actions. I believe that we as an organization did what was right for our agency and our community. The decision for any future criminal proceedings in this case rests with the North Carolina Attorney General’s office. We will continue to support their efforts.
There are differing opinions surrounding the events of that night and our subsequent response. I understand and respect each of your opinions and your right to express them. Our commitment and service to each other and to the community will not end after one incident, nor should it.
There is work yet to be done within this community and our organization. I am proud of the resiliency and resolve of our police officers in what they do every day to the service of our community.
Over the coming days, I will be scheduling opportunities for us to talk about concerns or questions you may have, and to chart our path forward.
Kerr Putney
Chief of Police
11 comments:
Those of us who know Chief Putney, have worked with him for over a decade, had many discussions, understands how he really communicates. You have to read between the lines.
Fact: Chief Putney believes Officer Kerrick should have been found guilty. He all but said it in the press conference Q and A after the verdict. In response to a question about when Officers can draw their guns, he said, and this is not word for word, "Officers can draw their weapon if they perceive a potential deadly threat, but they cannot fire that weapon unless the person is armed and poses an imminent threat to themselves or others." This is NOT true. A person does not have to be armed to be a deadly threat and he knows it.
He also said that he had "No regrets" about the investigation and he believed the State's expert witnesses did "an excellent job" explaining CMPD's use of force policy.
He then went on to stress that people have the right to express their feelings and protest, so long as it is done peacefully and within the law. As he was speaking, people were breaking the law by impeding traffic on 4th street, causing traffic problems, as his officers stood by and did nothing. He set the tone for the protests at the very beginning. He could have, and SHOULD HAVE, simply asked those 6 or 8 people to move out of the street and onto the nearby courtyard. If they didn't, arrest them, open the road, and preserve the rights of the hundreds of motorists trying to use the roads. Instead, he let 6 people lying in the street trample the rights of the hundreds of motorists.
Not sure if Kerr was around when John and Andy were killed. Seems to me, we averted that scenario in this case. How quickly we forget.
Looks like Kerr Putney is a mirror of Rodney Monroe the racist and perpetrator of this mess we now find ourselves in. Rodney Monroe cost the City and it's Citizens 2 1/4 million dollars, how much will Kerr Putney cost us?
The curse of Rodney Monroe continues with Kerr Putney!
http://conservativetribune.com/woman-annihilates-rioters/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=WesternJournalism&utm_content=2015-08-22
Great rant on black lives matter from a black person.
Funny how when the buck stops with him he's no longer the tough talking cops cop he once was... Anyone else remember him at the academy?!
Why is everyone talking about the "tough talking cop he once was"?? He was never a COP! He always likes to say how he is or how much he did, but he's never done a thing. He's made a handful of arrests, never testified in court, yelled at some recruits and that's it. He then got sent to a bunch of management schools. Big deal. He couldn't do the job of a real cop.
CMPD is just as F@&KED as they were with ROMO.Putney is the same and full of hot air. If your a female you have it made within the department. Get out while you can.
Being a female in the department does not always make you safe. I know of some females in the department won't likely lose their jobs.. Only because some of the married supervisors are worried that their own wives will find evidence of some of their extracurricular activities.
5:28. Yes you being a female makes you safe. Everyone is scared (command staff). That some sort if suit will be brought against the department. This is how females in CMPD get away with things.
Putney needs to change his last name to Patsy...the patsy who will take the fall for Monroe's stupid action of arresting Kerrick. Monroe is long gone and Patsy, I mean Putney is here to be the sacrificial lamb. Your house is divided and it will take years to build trusting camaraderie if it will ever happen again. Now investigate the actions of Monroe and then the rest will be exposed. I'm sure there are a lot of command staff who are sweating from more than our record hot weather.
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