TIP OF THE
ICEBERG AT CMPD ACADEMY?
Following
extensive research and inquiry, citynewswatch discovered that the initial
report of hundreds of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Officer records
was just the beginning. It turns out the
first 499 out of 501 Officers’ records on the AUDIT list which indicated a
problem were merely out of the first 501 checked… it
seemed CMPD and the NCDOJ Criminal Justice Standards Division were happy to
leave the impression after many questions about a full audit of CMPD that those
were all
the problems found. This would have been
bad enough, but was only the first < 1/3 they checked out of 1782 officers’
files.
For
details and copies of memos sent a year ago from Deputy Chief Katrina Graue
ordering officers to come in and have fingerprints re-done and obviously
admitting the missing records, see these previous citynewswatch posts here and here.
WHAT IS THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOING?
The
NCDOJ CJSD has said they have no answer from Chief Monroe or any surrogate for
him on what the heck happened in the first place, even for multiple officers
who had to be pulled from duty by the State because they were working without certification
standards—some for years. Recent NCDOJ
CJSD Director Wayne Woodard and current Deputy Director Pam Pope had issued
letters to CMPD demanding immediate removal from active duty of the officers
and a list of requirements for those officers (names blacked out here) before
they could be reinstated. However, the
same agency says they don’t have any such letter from Monroe—but have
reinstated the officers. Hmm.
One of the requirements was clearly to explain
what the heck is going on in CMPD and the management issues. You can read for yourself in some of the
letters found below, including that multiple officers were working uncertified,
that Chief Monroe was required to issue letters explaining the lack of
management control was missed in his agency, and a recommendation in July, 2011
that CMPD should contact the District Attorney's Office,
advise of the separations involving these officers and then “it is up to them
whether they believe any action may be warranted.” These are exactly the type of issues raised
by citynewswatch a year ago, but there’s still no answer what
action, if any, has been taken.
FULL AUDIT
RESULTS VERY CONCERNING
When
the full audit was complete, results show in a letter in September, 2012, that:
·
41 officers are
deficient in some manner with mandated in-service training required in previous
years; and
·
47 officers are
deficient with Certification requirements of the Commission
The completion and
report of audit findings does not preclude further Commission action as deemed
appropriate.
When
asked if this statement on his letterhead by Deputy Director Pope meant that 47
CMPD officers were now considered out of Certification and would be removed
from active duty status, current Interim Director of the NCDOJ Criminal Justice
Standards Division, Robert Yow, has said “the issues included in the final audit
report (for all 1792 files) have been referred for further inquiry, and I
cannot comment upon them.”
CONCERNED
DIRECTOR FROM NCDOJ
Former
NCDOJ CJSD Director Wayne Woodard expressed his concerns before the final audit
was complete:
From: Woodard, Wayne
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 4:50 PM
To: kgraue@cmpd.org
Cc: Pope, Pam
Subject: CMPD Issues
Deputy Chief Graue,
I would like to talk with you in
regards to several issues involving your agency. First, there is a need to
follow-up with you concerning the audit of officer certification files that our
staff recently conducted at your agency. Secondly, there are several other
issues that have come up, both before and since the audit which merit our discussion.
I will tell you
I am very concerned about these other issues and concerned about the actions of
some members of your agency regarding these issues.
Please let me know if you are available
anytime within the next several days for a phone conversation. If so, what is a
good time and at what number may I reach you. I do plan to ask my Deputy
director, Pam Pope, to join us since she was involved in the audit process and
has relevant information to share.
Thank you,
Wayne Woodard, Director
Criminal Justice Standards Division
North Carolina Department of Justice
919-661-5980
SUMMARY OF
FIRST OFFICER RECORDS AUDITED
To get
an idea the extent of the problem, here is a summary of the issues with the
first 501 records reviewed:
From: Marrella,
Teresa
Sent: Monday,
October 10, 2011 3:41 PM
To: Pope, Pam
Subject: CMPD
Audit Stats
Pam,
Below are the stats of files which were missing items or the wrong
form was used.
I have attached the spreadsheet.
Proof of Minimum Age of 20
13 Missing
Proof of Education
27 Missing
Proof of Citizenship
15 Missing
Results of FP Record Check
111 Missing
Medical History F-1
397 Missing
Medical Exam Report F-2
417 Missing
Personal History Statement F-3
13 Missing
Qualifications Appraisal
22 Missing
Mandated Background Investigation F-8
16 Missing
191 CMPD form
Firearms Qualification
379 Missing
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 4:23 PM
To: Pearsall, Sherie
Cc: Little, Jenny; Sauber, Jason; jcfields@cmpd.org
Subject:
Major Pearsall,
Per our earlier telephone conversation, we are requesting
the following documents to straighten out the information and correct status on
the above persons with your agency/formerly with your
agency:
XXXXXX
• need an amended Form F-5B with
corrected identifying information (DOB, SSN, Oath of Office)
• Letter from
Chief Monroe that has not separated from your agency and that has been working
full time since XXXXXX date of hire on whatever specific
date.
• Copies of all certification paperwork
("F" forms from our office)
• Letter from
Chief Monroe stating status of employment with CMPD including rank,
current assignment, etc. Also, please include how this was missed on your
agency profile since 1998.
• Date of drug test for employment or
copy of same
• Training for in-service has been
received by email and we will notify you if we need additional information
• Copies of all certification paperwork
("F" forms from our office)
• Letter from
Chief Monroe stating status of employment with CMPD including rank,
current assignment, etc. Also, please include how this was missed on your
agency profile since 1998.
• Date of drug test for employment or
copy of same
• Training for in-service has been
received by email and we will notify you if we need additional information
Again, these officers are not
to work until properly certified through our Division. Additionally,
as I mentioned, CJ Standards recommended
that CMPD contact your District Attorney's Office and advise of the separations
involving these officers and then it is up to them whether they believe any action
may be warranted.
If you have any questions, please don't
hesitate to contact me at 919-779-8204.
Pam
Pam
Pope
Deputy
Director
Criminal
Justice Standards Division
919-661-5980
From: Pearsall, Sherie [mailto:spearsall©cmpd.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 8:26 AM
To: Pope, Pam
Cc: Kukowski, Rebecca L. (Becky); Graue, Katrina;
Monroe, Rodney
Subject: RE: XXXXXX and XXXXXX
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
Deputy Director Pope, first thank you once again
for your prompt attention to this matter.
All items have been pulled and copies are on their
way to you this morning. In addition a member of our H/R staff, Thyssen Brawley
will be accompanying Sgt. Ray Williams this morning with each employee's
complete file for your review and extraction of any additional data that you may
require in order to expedite this process.
• We are currently attempting to locate the
original drug screen form with date for XXXXXX and
as soon as we have it in hand it will be delivered to you.
• I am unable to provide a
comprehensive explanation about how XXXXXX and XXXXXX were missed on our agency profile at this time. This issue is currently
being researched by one of our current H/R supervisors. There appears to be
some discrepancies regarding actual receipt of the profiles by our agency.
Rebecca Kukowski will be contacting Jenny Little today
regarding same so that we may better coordinate our efforts moving forward.
Please feel free to contact me once you
have these items in hand should we need to coordinate any additional efforts
throughout the day. I can be reached at 704.619.2995.
Major Sherie E. Pearsall
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG
POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING
AND RECRUITMENT
1770
SHOPTON ROAD
CHARLOTTE.
N.C. 28217
704.432.1641
SPEARSALL@CMPD.ORG
"...PEOPLE
WILL FORGE I WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE WILL
NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL."
AUTHOR." MAYA ANGELOU
From: Pope, Pam
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 1:03 PM
To: mhannan@cmPd.org
Cc: Woodard, Wayne
Subject: FW:
Audit results needing important follow up response
Importance: High
Miriam,
As I mentioned to you on the telephone
the other day, we felt that it was important to send you information in writing
on three of your officers where there were serious issues found during our
audit of your certification files.
XXXXXX:
XXXXXX failed to
complete his 2007 mandated in-service training as reported by your agency as
deficient on the Form F-9 was suspended as of April 10, 2008 and a certified
letter was mailed to him. XXXXXX
signed for this letter on April 18, 2008. At that point in time, XXXXXX
should have ceased performing any law enforcement actions. My understanding is
that this had not happened as of September 28, 2011. Per my conversation with
Captain Bannerman, must immediately cease performing law
enforcement actions until ill has complied with
the following and has received a letter from this office rescinding. XXXXXX
's suspension:
• XXXXXX. needs to write a
statement to address why XXXXXX continued
to work as a law enforcement officer after receiving a letter of suspension.
Also, this statement needs to address whether, XXXXXX
discussed XXXXXX s suspension with
any member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department including who XXXXXX
spoke with, when XXXXXX spoke with them and what was XXXXXX
told.
• XXXXXX must
complete the 2007 mandated in-service training which XXXXXX
failed to complete (everything but firearms) or provide
verification in the form of a certificate of completion with date, title, and
hours of the course or a roster with the same information.
• XXXXXX must also
provide documentation that XXXXXX has
completed all of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 mandated in-service training. The same
documentation noted in the second bullet must be provided.
XXXXXX
XXXXXX was
separated by an F-5B (Report of Separation) which was filed by your agency
on May 15, 2008. We did not receive any additional information from the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department requesting XXXXXX
be moved to a reserve status instead of separated. Therefore, XXXXXX
has not been certified since May 2008 and should not have been working in a law
enforcement capacity. My understanding is that did not happen and IMO XXXXXX
has been working actively as a reserve officer. Per my conversation with
Captain Bannerman, XXXXXX must immediately
cease performing law enforcement actions until XXXXXX
has complied with the following and has received a letter from this office
rescinding XXXXXX separation
and reissuing le certification:
• A letter from Chief Monroe to
Criminal Justice Standards Director Wayne Woodard addressing the request to
rescind the separation of XXXXXX which
would restore his certification. Additionally, include in the letter how did
the error of separation happen.
• XXXXXX must
provide documentation that'll-las completed all of the 2008, 2009 and
2010 mandated in-service training. XXXXXX must
provide verification of completion of this training in the form of a
certificate of completion with date, title, and hours of the course or a roster
with the same information.
XXXXXX
XXXXXX was
separated by an F-5B (Report of Separation) which was filed by your agency on
September 5, 2008. We did not receive any
information from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department requesting XXXXXX
be moved to a reserve status instead of separated. Therefore, has not been certified since May
2008 and should not have been working in a law enforcement capacity. My
understanding is that did not happen and XXXXXX has been
working actively as a reserve officer. Per my conversation with Captain Bannerman,
XXXXXX must
immediately cease performing law enforcement actions until
has complied with the following and has received a letter
from this office rescinding XXXXXX ',separation
and reissuing XXXXXX certification:
• A letter from
Chief Monroe to Criminal Justice Standards Director Wayne Woodard addressing
the request to rescind the separation of XXXXXX which would restore her certification. Additionally, include in the
letter how did the error of separation happen.
• XXXXXX must
provide documentation that XXXXXX has
completed all of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 mandated
in-service training. XXXXXX must
provide verification of completion of this training in the form of a
certificate of completion with date, title, and hours of the course or a
roster with the same information.
If you should have any questions about
this issue, please feel free to contact me.
Pam Pope
Pam
Pope
Deputy
Director
Criminal
Justice Standards Division
919-661-5980
From: Pope, Pam [mailto:ppope@ncdoj.gov]
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 2:11 PM
To: Hannan, Miriam
Cc: Woodard, Wayne
Subject: RE: Audit
results needing important follow up response
Importance: High
Miriam,
I hope that you are doing well this
Monday afternoon. I am following up on the below email which was sent to you
last Wednesday reference CMPD officers who were to be pulled from active law
enforcement duties.
My Director, Wayne Woodard, has requested confirmation that Officers XXXX, XXXX and XXXX have been
reassigned to duties which do not require law enforcement action to be taken. Would you please advise ASAP when these
officers were reassigned and by whom in the Command Staff was this action taken
by?
Additionally, who will be responsible
for forwarding the requested information to me?
I appreciate your time in advance as I
know how busy that you are.
Pam
Pam
Pope
Deputy
Director
Criminal
Justice Standards Division
919-661-5980
As of
June, 2012, Major Sheri Pearsall of the Administrative Services Group is paid
$98,642/yr. Deputy Chief Katrina Graue
of the Administrative Services Group is paid $112,785/yr. Chief Rodney Monroe is paid $190,550/yr. These amounts are according to the Charlotte
Observer and DO NOT include free cars and plenty of other benefits and
perks. An interesting point is that
Monroe promoted both Pearsall and Graue on August 2, 2011—after the problems of
officers working without being certified were reported on their watch (and
Monroe’s). Correction noted Oct. 4: Graue was actually promoted to the position in Administrative Services Group May 12, 2010, different from most recent pay increase.
Costs
to City of Charlotte tax payers for lawsuits generated by Monroe have been
tremendous. Spending has exploded. Maybe he could at least keep track of which
police officers are certified to do the job.
Make
sure costumes do not impede line of sight or cause any other safety problems with
breathing or movement. Be sure they are
flame retardant. Use bright colors and
reflective surfaces. Add reflective tape
to costumes and bags for safety.
It’s
unfortunate to need to know, but all year round, you should be aware of
registered sex offenders in your area.
You can check by street, zip code, name, or other ways at the NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY and at the NC SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. 
