CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton announced today after a five-month comprehensive search process that Rodney Monroe will be the new Chief of Police for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Monroe was one of three candidates selected as finalists for interviews with the City Manager and invited to Charlotte to participate in a public forum held May 13.

Monroe will have his hands full overseeing CMPD's 2,000 employees, which is twice the number of employees in Richmond's Police department.

Charlotte City councilman Warren Turner said Monroe was the best candidate for the job because of his record speaks for itself.

“His track record of success, being successful with gangs, being successful with street crimes, being successful with bringing the homicide rate down," said Turner. While in Richmond, Monroe created a dedicated homicide unit. As a result, the homicide rate plummeted 33 percent to a 26 year low in a city that was once in the top five for most murders nationwide.

Monroe also held city-wide problem solving sessions where citizens and police worked together to craft plans of action to address crime issues. Those sessions helped Monroe create more accountability within Richmond’s police department.

As chairman of the council's public safety committee, Turner is also looking forward to working closely with Monroe who will be the city's first African-American police chief.

Turner said, "It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be something that happens overnight. This is not Christmas and we can't expect Santa Clause to drop in and give you this wonderful gift."

Monroe embodies the qualities and characteristics identified in the profile developed for the next Chief of Police. These included offering the citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg aggressive and effective leadership and programming needed to address potential increases in crime rates; a strong commitment to customer service; dedication to policing that involves the community; and understanding of the importance in managing crime, public order and traffic safety issues.

Additionally, the next Chief of Police will have broad experience in all areas of municipal policing including patrol, criminal investigation and administration with an established record of effectively managing the activities and functions of a police department, all of which Monroe's has had experience.

"Rodney Monroe personifies every aspect of the ideal Police Chief especially as a strong communicator, says City Manager Curt Walton. "He also has an extraordinary passion for law enforcement and prevention that makes a community a better place to live."

When City of Charlotte officials conducted a site visit in Richmond, VA, they were consistently informed by citizens, business and civic leaders that they have the highest degree of respect and admiration for Monroe. His talents, skills and attributes include being a team player, inclusiveness, high-integrity, building rapport with citizens, intelligence, collaboration, promoting change, accessibility and toughness when necessary.

Monroe began his policing career in 1979 as a police officer with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, rising to Assistant Chief of Police, the department's second highest sworn rank. In May 2001, he became Chief of Police for the Macon, Georgia Police Department, and in 2005 was recruited to the City of Richmond to lead the Richmond Police Department.

As Police Chief of the City of Richmond he created a dedicated homicide unit and started the Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership (CVRP) with prosecutorial and correctional agencies. During his tenure as Chief the number of homicides in Richmond decreased by 33 percent and Richmond was no longer on the list of top five cities with the highest murder rate during his tenure, representing a 26-year all time low.

"The chance to be the next Chief of Police of Charlotte-Mecklenburg is one of a lifetime, says Rodney Monroe. "I have admired all that Charlotte has accomplished and respected CMPD from afar, and now I have the opportunity to take a great organization to the next level creating an even safer community for citizens."

Chief Monroe will begin his position here in Charlotte no later than June 16, 2008. The exact date is yet undetermined, so as to give Chief Monroe and the City of Richmond time to work out the details for the transition.