Chief Monroe & City of Charlotte Fight NC DOJ Request for Crime Data, too

 Maybe other members of the press or attorneys can ask for this information and get answers: Chief Monroe, Curt Walton and the rest still refuse to release basic public crime data afforded by public record law and specifically requested.  citynewswatch has records forwarded and confirmed that even the NC Department of Justice and FBI have been unable to pry the statistics from CMPD. 

See the complete list requested from CMPD Attorney Mark Newbold below.  What is the reason that Ms. Nguyen, who runs CMPD computer analysis can’t simply send the information upon request?  There is no legitimate reason. 

There’s probably a huge amount of wasted money and even just computer processing time and storage space on ridiculous repeated requests for information that City officials are fighting.  There’s only one reason to try to keep this secret and it’s not good.

Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2011

Subject: UCR statistics

To: mnguyen@cmpd.org

Dear Ms. Nguyen,

I have read an article where DC Putney said that the FBI found some errors on CMPD reports.  Do you have a quantification of those errors? 

I don't know if it's related to those same numbers or not, but since the CMPD does its own review, are there any reports that show the adjustments made at the end of the year after CMPD makes any corrections to reports vs. what was reported during the year? 

I would appreciate any information.  Thank you.

Here is the article.  I just need the numbers I asked for and the audit report or reports involved, whether FBI review and/or CMPD review.  DC Putney did not respond, so I sent my request to the personnel who track all the crime numbers, according to your website.

Thanks very much.

Police: Crime stats accurate

Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

cwootson@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Friday, Jan. 07, 2011

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police use the same crime-tracking system that has come under fire for accuracy problems in other cities, but department officials say they believe their crime statistics are accurate.

Local police are thoroughly trained in how to accurately classify and record crime, says Deputy Chief Kerr Putney. Supervisors review officers' initial crime reports to help ensure accuracy, and the department conducts periodic audits.

"You've got to trust your people...," says Putney. “We don't have a lot of instances where people are misclassifying or falsifying or underreporting crime."

The FBI recently reviewed a small sample of CMPD crime reports and made only minor suggestions to improve uniformity of reporting, Putney said. But the FBI's review did not raise questions of accuracy.

Putney says the department sees no need for an independent audit of Charlotte's crime statistics like the one underway in New York. Critics there and elsewhere say the "Comp stat" computer crime-tracking system encourages officers to underreport and misclassify crimes- so they don't face possible consequences for reporting increases in crime. 

Putney says CMPD is confident that the dramatic decline they’ve recorded in Charlotte crime is accurate. The department has recently reported record lows in crime since the department began keeping uniform records in 1977. Chief Rodney Monroe has said the decline stems from a variety of factors including improved police tactics, better crime-mapping and other socio-economic shifts.

On Tue, Nov 22, 2011

Captain Cunningham,

I HAVE USED CAPITAL LETTERS TO MAKE READING EASIER.

THESE ARE THE NUMBERS I AM LOOKING FOR FROM MY ORIGINAL REQUEST:

I have read an article where DC Putney said that the FBI found some errors on CMPD reports. Do you have a quantification of those errors?

I don't know if it's related to those same numbers or not, but since the CMPD does its own review, are there any reports that show the adjustments made at the end of the year after CMPD makes any corrections to reports vs. what was reported during the year?

PLEASE ASK MS. NGUYEN FOR THE DATA.

THESE ARE THE AUDITS:

Supervisors review officers' initial crime reports to help ensure accuracy, and the department conducts periodic audits. 

"You've got to trust your people...," says Putney.  "We don't have a lot of instances where people are misclassifying or falsifying or underreporting crime."

The FBI recently reviewed a small sample of CMPD crime reports and made only minor suggestions to improve uniformity of reporting, Putney said. But the FBI's review did not raise questions of accuracy.

ARE YOU SAYING THE CMPD DOES NOT HAVE THE FBI REPORT?

PLEASE GIVE ME THE NUMBERS I HAVE ASKED FOR.

THANK YOU.

On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 4:10 PM,

Mr. Walton,

Is there any difficulty in understanding the reports and numbers exactly as I have described them? Captain Cunningham says he doesn't understand what has been requested. Please find someone who does and have them send the numbers and reports.

On Thu, Dec 1, 2011

Mr. Walton,

I am asking for very little information, all of which should be available.

Please send the information promptly. It shouldn't be necessary to keep asking, and to be refused.

If you refuse to send it, then you must give me an explanation for the denial, as Public Records Law dictates.

to: rmonroe@cmpd.org

date: Sat, Dec 3, 2011

Chief Monroe,

I have sent this request and been patient for weeks trying to get this information, but your Public Affairs officer Captain Brian Cunningham wrote to me that he doesn't understand anything about the numbers I asked for.  Kerr Putney, who said he reviewed the data, didn't respond.  Ms. Nguyen--who should have the information also--didn't give the data.  Please assign whoever has the data to send it. 

Thank you.

Date: Wed, Dec 7, 2011

Subject: Re: FW: Public Info Request -- FW: UCR statistics
To: cwalton@ci.charlotte.nc.us, bcunningham@cmpd.org, rfey@cmpd.org, kmcmillan@ci.charlotte.nc.us, kputney@cmpd.org, ksetzer@ci.charlotte.nc.us, kmrichardson@ci.charlotte.nc.us

Mr. Walton,

Captain Brian Cunningham has still not provided this information. This is public information which you are required to provide.

Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011
To: Cunningham, Brian
Subject: Re: CMPD Year-End UCR Statistics

Officer Cunningham,

I'm sure you are aware that the report sent by Officer Williams is not the information I have asked you for.

Officer Williams obviously has the information, and I suspect you do by now as well. He said "I compile the UCR reports for CMPD. Captain Cunningham asked that I contact you and provide you with the 2010 Year-End UCR Summary Report." This obviously isn't what I asked you for. He also said "Please let me know if you need any further assistance," but when I did, he continues to refuse to do that.

He is in the "Crime Analysis Division, UCR/NIBRS" so he should have the numbers.

Please send to me what I asked for instead of having your officer run interference. Thank you.

It seems Captain Cunningham really didn’t like it that other people were notified about his blocking the information for Chief Monroe, but you should interpret for yourself the email he sent in giant, obnoxious type, saying that nobody understood the items Deputy Chief Putney referred to in the article or basic crime statistics:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cunningham, Brian <bcunningham@cmpd.org>
Date: Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 9:21 AM
Subject: RE: CMPD Year-End UCR Statistics

I will explain this again and keep it real simple so we can work through this. Call me at 704-336-4098, I will try to help you anyway possible. No one knows what you are talking about so please just focus on dealing with me and not emailing others. All Public Records requests come through my office for approval. I hope you can understand and I hope to hear from you soon. Brian

Captain Brian Cunningham

CMPD-Public Affairs Director

704-336-4098

Requests for assistance have involved the NC Department of Justice.  Ms. Narcissa Woods has made a clear request for the list of public information below to CMPD Attorney Mark Newbold:

Woods, Narcissi Nwoods@ncdoj.gov

Jan 11, 2012

I have emailed your request to Mark Newbold of the Charlotte City Attorney’s office.

Regards,

Narcisa Woods

Victims & Citizens Services Section

North Carolina Attorney General's Office

(919) 716-6780

(919) 716-6705 Fax

 E-mails in connection with public business, are public records and may be disclosed to third parties

Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012

To: Woods, Narcisa

Subject: List of items-- thanks.

Dear Ms. Woods,

Here is a partial quote from the full Charlotte Observer article already provided to CMPD and City of Charlotte officials in which Deputy Chief Kerr Putney discussed crime statistic audits, changing crime reports, and the accuracy of crime statistics.  After that is a bulletized list that I hope simplifies things and if there are any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me again.  Thank you so much for your assistance.

Partially quoting the newspaper article:

"We don't have a lot of instances where people are misclassifying or falsifying or underreporting crime."  

The FBI recently reviewed a small sample of CMPD crime reports and made only minor suggestions to improve uniformity of reporting, Putney said. But the FBI's review did not raise questions of accuracy.  Putney says CMPD is confident that the dramatic decline they've recorded in Charlotte crime is accurate. 

·       DC Putney clearly stated that there is an internal audit of these reports– I would like a copy of the audit

·       How many instances was he referring to when he said “we don’t have a lot of instances … misclassifying or falsifying or underreporting crime?"

·       Putney said there was an FBI review – I would like a copy of that FBI review or any results from their review

·       Putney said that supervisors review the numbers as well, and that changes are made to indicate corrections.  I would like to see all of those reports that were changed so that I can see why they were changed and how they were changed by supervisors.

·       I would like the annual numbers of reported crimes by category as they were reported before corrections were made and then as they were reported after corrections were made for 2010 and 2011   

·       I would like the totals by classification and numbers of CALLS FOR SERVICE for all calls, and how they relate to classification and numbers of CRIMES REPORTED, also for 2010 and 2011

Thank you very much

You can see that this last item is maybe the most important in discerning what is going on with the reporting of crime in Charlotte.  Comparing what citizens are reporting to what Chief Monroe is reporting is important and relevant, and perhaps why he is fighting so hard not to release information.

Here we stand in mid-February, 2012.  It is over a year since Cleve Wootson wrote his article about the questionable crime statistics.  It has been three years since Chief Monroe stood up on in front of Charlotte’s City Council and claimed there was a legitimate drop in crime, with no changes in the way CMPD was reporting, and no pressure on officers to underreport crime. 

It has been three ½ months since this latest specific request was input, but Monroe, Walton, and lawyers we are paying for are fighting even the North Carolina Department of Justice to keep the real numbers secret.

The one piece of information turned over was a State Audit which found A state audit found regarding CMPD “State Program had staff assigned to conduct audits:  NO”, deficient of standards.  Also, only 61 reports were reviewed from CMPD.

Also, the state found that “CMPD did not correctly submit Quarterly Hate Crime Reports.”

This public information must all be turned over immediately in an attempt to lend any legitimacy to Monroe’s claims of huge drops in the crime rate here.

It is incumbent upon City Council to produce this information, which could be done in a matter of minutes with the multi-million dollar computer information system Monroe guided Charlotte to purchase from his old business associate.