Volunteer board sides with officers over chief in half of CMPD misconduct cases

CHARLOTTE — The power to suspend or terminate a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer doesn't have to stop at Chief Kerr Putney.

Instead, officers facing disciplinary action can file an appeal to the chief's decision, which is then deferred to a group of volunteers, called the civil service board.

The group of nine, appointed by the mayor and city council, is governed by state law and city code, in addition to its own rules and procedures.

Their role became a topic of heated discussion Wednesday night, in a forum on race and police conduct at Little Rock AME Zion Church, which drew more than 800 city residents along with the CMPD police chief and several officers.

Putney explained he referred several officers to the board for suspension or termination, only to have them return to the department after officers filed an appeal and won their case.

Board Chair Jason McGrath described the hearings as "miniature trials," lasting between one and three days with board members hearing evidence and objections, before deliberating on whether to uphold the chief's decision.

He said board members consider an officer's history, the severity of the offense and will often factor in if the officer is remorseful.

In recent cases he's overseen, McGrath said the board siding with officers over Putney is split nearly 50-50.

"We don't want CMPD to have all perfect people who had straight A's their entire life, who never stubbed their toe," he said. "We also need people that know what it's like to have fallen down and gotten back up."

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In August, CMPD is expected to present at the board's monthly meeting, with its immediate and long term goals on how to improve relationships within the community.

Cox Media Group