Post News . Share Ideas . Inspire Innovation . Get Informed . Get Involved



Monday, November 14, 2016

More Pretend Accountability from Charlotte City Council

Charlotte’s City Council is on the same train: pretend to do something that will improve police conduct and accountability, spend a ton of our money to do it, call it ‘mission accomplished’ and pat themselves on the back for a harmonious, diverse city.  Nothing to see here.  Move along.

Sound familiar?  Well, there’s a reason for that.  At tonight’s City Council Meeting, they will vote to approve $380K to pay the POLICE FOUNDATION to consult and review “the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s policies, procedures, and its relationship with the community.”

Doesn’t that sound nice?  What is your confidence level any real change or accountability will happen?  Wait—before you answer that question, did you know who the Police Foundation has acquired as their latest part of a “highly qualified team with extensive expertise and experience in police-community relations; critical incident review, best practice in policing and law enforcement operations, use of force, implicit bias, and specialized police responses to people with mental illness; problem-oriented policing and internal investigations?”

RODNEY MONROE!

That’s right, our own former Police Chief Rodney Monroe, who lied about having the required degree in Criminal Justice to get his job, lied about knowing about misconduct by Marcus Jackson (the former CMPD officer who drove around in uniform pulling over and sexually assaulting women) until Monroe’s signature on documents was leaked… then lied again until a second signature by Monroe was leaked…

Monroe, who exclaimed a man was “viciously knocking” on a door at 2:30 a.m., then changed course and charged Officer Kerrick within hours, then fled town like a coward before the trial…
Monroe, who has a terrible history of treating officers and citizens with zero accountability…

Monroe is the Police Foundations latest shining example of a “highly qualified team” that City Council will claim is bringing an OUTSIDE, IMPARTIAL VIEW to CMPD.

Great.  Surely, this will be money well spent.

City Council Agenda Item for tonight, 11/14/2016

28. Police Foundation Consulting Services
Action:
A.     Approve a contract in the amount of $379,504 with the Police Foundation for consulting services focused on reviewing the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s policies, procedures, and its relationship with the community, and

B.     Authorize the City Manager to approve price adjustments and amend the contract consistent with the City’s business needs and the purpose for which the contract was awarded.

Staff Resource(s):
Chief Kerr Putney, Police
Ann Wall, City Manager’s Office
Explanation

§ The Police Foundation is an independent, non-governmental, research organization based in
Washington, D.C.

- Incorporated in 1970, the Police Foundation is the oldest nationally known, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-membership driven organization dedicated to improving policing in America.
- Their mission is to advance policing through innovation and science.
- The Police Foundation has extensive experience in the assessment and evaluation of law enforcement response to critical incidents:
§ U.S. Department of Justice Collaborative Reform Initiative: An Assessment of St.
Louis County Police Department by Cooperative Agreement by the Office of
Community Oriented Policing, U.S. Department of Justice,
§ U.S. Department of Justice Collaborative Reform Initiative: An Assessment of the
North Charleston Police Department by Cooperative Agreement by the Office of
Community Oriented Policing, U.S. Department of Justice,
§ Critical incident review and after action assessment of law enforcement response to  the San Bernardino Terrorist Shooting, and
§ Critical incident review and after action assessment of the law enforcement response to the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting.
- The Police Foundation has assembled a highly qualified team with extensive expertise and experience in police-community relations; critical incident review, best practice in policing and law enforcement operations, use of force, implicit bias, and specialized police responses to people with mental illness; problem-oriented policing and internal investigations.
§ The Police Foundation will conduct an independent assessment of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) policies, procedures, relationship with the community, and CMPD’s work following the September 20, 2016 officer-involved shooting incident.
§ The assessment will include input from a diverse group of community members and will result in recommendations.
§ The Police Foundation will work closely with the community, as well as share all deliverables to the community such as compiled reports, recommendations, and communication strategies.

§ The scope of work will include three phases:
- Phase 1 - Development of the Community Advisory Board and Project Strategy: The Police
Foundation will develop a Community Advisory Board of key Charlotte stakeholders to include government, business, and community leaders.
- Phase 2 - Community Dialogue and Input: The Police Foundation will organize structured listening sessions with members and leaders of the community in conjunction with CMPD, city leaders, and Advisory Board members.
- Phase 3 - Critical Incident Review of CMPD’s Response to Protests and Demonstration: The Police Foundation will use its proven model of critical incident review and technical  assistance to review CMPD’s response to protests and demonstrations with a focus on rebuilding relationships between the community and the police.
§ CMPD will strategically implement both short and long term recommendations and demands in response to The Police Foundation, The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and
Community Activist Groups.

§ Contract expenditures are $379,504.
Fiscal Note
Funding: General Capital Reserves

From PoliceFoundation.Org :
Executive Fellows at the Police Foundation are current or retired executive-level members of criminal justice organizations whose knowledge, experience and skills help advance the Foundation’s mission. They serve as members of the President’s Practitioner Advisory Board to help ensure the Foundation is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the practical needs of law enforcement organizations. In addition, executive fellows serve as the Foundation’s regional representatives in national and international settings. Executive Fellows work on specific projects, represent the Foundation in meetings and conferences, and develop substantive thought pieces about the pressing issues facing policing. They serve for terms determined by the Foundation’s president.


Executive-level individuals interested in becoming an Executive Fellow should e-mail a brief statement of interest outlining their experience and skills at advancing policing and a copy of their resume directly to the Foundation President.   

See an embellished resume here: