Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton announced today that Rodney Monroe will be the new Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.According to the CMPD Press Release, Monroe embodies the qualities and characteristics identified in the profile developed for the next Chief of Police.
These included: 1) Offering the citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg aggressive and effective leadership and programming needed to address potential increases in crime rates. 2) A strong commitment to customer service 3) Dedication to policing that involves the community. 4) Understanding of the importance in managing crime, public order and traffic safety issues.
When City of Charlotte officials conducted a site visit in Richmond, VA, they were consistently informed by citizens, business and civic leaders that they have the highest degree of respect and admiration for Chief Rodney Monroe. His talents, skills and attributes include being a team player, inclusively, high-integrity, building rapport with citizens, intelligence, collaboration, promoting change, accessibility and toughness when necessary.
Monroe began his policing career in 1979 as a police officer with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, rising to Assistant Chief of Police, the department’s second highest sworn rank. In May 2001, he became Chief of Police for the Macon, Georgia Police Department and in 2005 was recruited to the City of Richmond to lead the Richmond Police Department.
As Police Chief of the Richmond Police Department, he created a dedicated homicide unit and started the Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership (CVRP) with prosecutable and correctional agencies. During his tenure as Chief the number of homicides in Richmond decreased by 33%. (Side Note: He responds to each and every homicide scene) and Richmond was no longer on the list of top five cities with the highest murder rate during his tenure, representing a 26-year all time low.
“The chance to be the next Chief of Police of Charlotte-Mecklenburg is one of a lifetime, says Rodney Monroe. “I have admired all that Charlotte has accomplished and respected CMPD from afar, and now I have the opportunity to take a great organization to the next level creating an even safer community for citizens.”
Chief Monroe will begin his position here in Charlotte no later than June 16, 2008.