Updated 05/14/2008 07:33 AM
Chief candidates speak at public forum
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CHARLOTTE -- In a few weeks, there will be a big change in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, when a new police chief takes over. The three candidates for the position discussed their ideas in a public forum Tuesday.
Sometime before June 1, City Manager Curt Walton will pick his choice of the three finalists: Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe, Atlanta Assistant Police Chief Alan Dreher and CMPD Deputy Police Chief Jerry Sennett.
Whoever is chosen will have to deal with rising crime and a growing sense of outrage from neighborhood groups. So far in 2008,
The candidates from left: Dreher, Monroe and Sennett.
reported burglaries are up 18 percent, and aggravated assaults are up 17 percent.
Chief Darrel Stephens served as the chief of police for eight years.
Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for more on this story, as Charlotte prepares for a new police chief.
See what each candidate had to say about why they should be named the new chief of police at CMPD:
“I have worked in two major cities, I have commanded in two major cities, I’ve run the day-to-day operations of the entire police department for six years. So I have the education obviously, I have the experience, I have the background and I have the skill sets.”
Alan Dreher
“I enjoy the connection of the inner workings of a department, the men and women who make up a police department, and making that connection with the citizens of a city to go about [addressing and identifying] problems, to bring resolution to those problems.”
Rodney Monroe
“It is a great police department; I don’t think we’re broke. I think we can do things better, I’m ready to bring energy to this police department and make us better, but I don’t think we’re broke. And I think it’s time for an insider to go ahead and lead this agency.”
Jerry Sennett