CMPD Rodney Monroe
By John Galles
              
Deputy City Manager Ron Kimble introduced our new police chief. Rodney Monroe was sworn in as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief on June 16, 2008. He oversees a consolidated city-county department of more than 2000 employees serving more than 713,000 residents and others who commute to work in our city daily or who visit for leisure opportunities.
 
Before coming to Charlotte, Chief Monroe served as chief of the Richmond, Virginia Police Department (2005 - 08), police chief in Macon, Georgia (2001 - 2005) and as an assistant chief of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department. He began his policing career as a police officer in that department in 1979.
 
Chief Monroe is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and holds memberships in the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). In 2007 he was awarded the Gartner BI Excellence for a dashboard deployment that blends reporting, alerts, predictive analytics and geographic mapping.
 
Chief Monroe opened his remarks with special thanks to Rotary for their sponsorship of the annual golf outing to raise money for scholarships for the children of police, fire, sheriff and medic. He enjoyed playing in that tournament and appreciates the recognition and the funds that are raised.
 
Chief Monroe said that he has spent the first five months on the job listening to citizen concerns and reorganizing the department to target the police force within neighborhoods and communities where crimes are being committed. He stated that the men and women of the CMPD are working to reduce crime, increase safety in our community and provide exceptional services in times of emergency. He has understood that people believe that the criminal justice system is soft on crime. He is determined to change that perception.
 
He also intends to target resources more aggressively to crime at the neighborhood and community level. He promised to hold the patrol divisions accountable so that overall crime is reduced substantially. He has also targeted force to control gang activities as well as firearms enforcement. He has created an assault with a deadly weapon unit designed to get guns and individuals with guns off the street. They will target the worst offenders and expand enforcement with electronic monitoring where possible and practical.
 
Through a range of crime prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies, the CMPD is determined to "prevent the next crime." Of course, he knows that they cannot do it alone. He needs community involvement reporting suspicious activity and crime, becoming and remaining involved in neighborhoods, and sharing information with CMPD to preserve order and safety. Working together, we can develop proactive, long-term solutions to crime problems and neighborhood challenges
 
The goal of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is to make Charlotte one of the safest large cities in America. To do that, they continually advance strategies that prevent crime. They find ways to engage the community in taking steps that help minimize opportunities for victimization. They explore appropriate policy direction with the Mayor and City Council. They seek solutions to the complex community problems that contribute to crime and disorder. And they enforce the laws and arrest the people who break them.
 
He stressed that the officers, staff and volunteers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department take very seriously their duty to provide citizens with professional, innovative and effective service. Community safety is a shared responsibility and we are committed to working in partnership with neighborhood residents and business owners as well as other local, state and federal agencies to reduce crime and increase safety. After a short Q&A session, he concluded his remarks encouraging people to stay involved. He reminded President Mac that he had filled out his membership form and that he hoped to become a member of the Charlotte Rotary Club soon.
    
  
Head Table: Jon Hannan, Joe Penner, Mac McCarley, Ron Kimble, Doug Bean, Ed Lewis;
Invocation: Bill Anderson;
Visitors & Guests: Ken Samuelson; Health & Happiness: David Zimmerman; Song and Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Leigh Derby introduced Mary Erwin on Tuesday. Mary is vice president of Airlie, a commercial real estate company and has already become quite involved in Charlotte Rotary by volunteering at the golf tournament and serving BBQ at the Freeman's! Contact Mary at mle924@jwu.edu.
    
• Dean Jones was named outstanding professional fundraising executive by the Charlotte chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; Tom Cottingham has been named Dean of the 2011 International Association of Defense Counsel's Corporate Counsel College; David Erdman will present Charlotte's history on Sunday at the Duke Mansion during "Charlotte At War" in honor of Veterans Day, November 11th; David Zimmerman thanked clubs members, past and present, serving as elected officials.
       
• Tom Robertson recognized several club members for donations to The Rotary Foundation: David Norman and Ed Lewis, Paul Harris Fellow; Mike Parrott and Leigh Derby, Level One; Henry Bostic and Warren Kean, Level Two; David Anderson, Level Four; Frank Martin, Level Eight. Tom also gave an update on the club's effort to meet the $1M mark in Foundation giving by June 30, 2009. Total all-time donations to date: $958,074.01.
   
VOLUNTEER ITEMS

• BizTown: BizTown is the outstanding Junior Achievement (JA) program for 4th and 5th graders to get hands on learning about the free enterprise system. Charlotte Rotary supports JA both financially and with volunteers at BizTown. The next volunteer day is 8:30 - 1:00 on Thursday, December 4th. Bob Webb (bwebb@myers-chapman.com) is coordinating this effort. Contact Bob for questions or to volunteer.
 
• Crisis Assistance Ministry: Warm clothing, hats, gloves, blankets, will be collected during the month of November. Jim Adams has arranged drop-off tables at the McDowell St. and 3rd St. entrances in the hotel parking deck.
 
• Second Harvest Food Bank: Shay Merritt and Carol Jordan are coordinating a collection of canned foods during the month of November. Items needed: canned food, fruit, soup, vegetables, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, cereal. Look for the collection barrel at the entry of the meeting room each week.
   
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Mark Norman will kick off the bell ringing schedule next week. Those wishing to volunteer may do so by clicking here.

• The Rotary Foundation: TRF has full scholarships available for students to pursue a master's degree in conflict resolution, peace studies, international relations, and related areas. Candidates must have received their undergraduate degrees and worked for at least two years. Additional information can be found at http://www.rotarydistrict7680/newspdf/PeaceScholarships.pdf
        
CALENDAR ITEMS
    
• November 10, 2008:  Rotary Foundation Banquet. Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Convention Center (just down from Concord Mills); Reception at 6:00; dinner at 7:00. Speakers: Carolyn Jones, first female elected to the Foundation Board will share her experience as a volunteer in Russia helping children affected by the Chernobyl disaster and Shai Tamari, Rotary World Peace Fellow who is searching to find a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. $40 per person.
     
• December 16, 2008:  Excellence in Leadership Award.  Rotary Club of Charlotte, Charlotte Business Journal and the Charlotte Chamber will present the 21st winner of the Excellence in Leadership Award on December 16th. Nominations for the award may be submitted to the Rotary office by November 17th. Criteria for the award is available by clicking here.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 11/18/2008.