Charlotte Police Chief 'Rolls Up Sleeves' With New Ideas

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Rodney Monroe spelled out his new plans to prevent and fight crime Monday night at Charlotte City Council.

He said he wants to make officers more visible by putting them on the streets, leasing offices in high-profile spots, and making sure certain officers take home marked cars.

"A more roll up your sleeves, let's go out there in the trenches [attitude]," Monroe said. "We're going to allow officers to take them to church, take them to the movies, take them to shopping and so forth."

He also wants to look into a daytime curfew for youngsters and make it easier for police to go on high-speed chases. It’s a touchy topic with neighborhood leaders.

East Charlotte resident Darrell Bonapart said, "These high-speed chases are sensitive, or a sensitive subject that has been talked about for a long time and, hopefully, whatever they're proposing and how they're wishing to change it, that it won't endanger the community."

Monroe also wants to create two new police divisions to relieve the workload in the north and south divisions.