City Council To Vote On Hiring Of More CMPD Officers

Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents will probably see more police officers on the streets soon.

Chief Rodney Monroe wants 125 more police officers. Charlotte landed roughly $8.5 million in stimulus funds for 50 of them.

City leaders plan to vote Monday whether to accept the money. If they do, they'll have to keep paying the officers after the stimulus money runs out.

City leaders will also decide Monday whether to fund the other 75 positions that Monroe has asked for. They're thinking of using $1.4 million meant for repaving roads to start the hiring process.

If that happens, road crews said it will take them an extra year to get through the repaving list, and they'd have to drop 17 miles worth of projects. Thank you for participating. Which would you rather have in Charlotte -- more police officers or repaved roads? Which would you rather have in Charlotte -- more police officers or repaved roads? Police officers Repaved roads Neither, there are other priorities for county money.

Residents said they can see both sides of the issue.

“If I had to choose between the roads or the officers, I'd say I would choose the officers," said Bobby Gooden.

"You got to have the roads first. Where are the officers going to go? What are they going to protect? What are they going to drive on?" asked a man who only wanted to be referred to as Tony.

But it seems city leaders are ready to give the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department all 125 officers.

Councilman Andy Dulin said, "We've all made the commitment to bring more police officers to this community and to support Chief Monroe."

Eyewitness News asked Monroe how he'll use the new officers. CMPD spokesman Rob Tufano said Monroe didn't want to talk about the officers, the vote or the situation publicly.

Tufano e-mailed Eyewitness News, saying the chief "will not play it through the press."

So Eyewitness News asked Councilman Warren Cooksey, the only councilman likely to vote against the CMPD hiring, if he wants to know Monroe's plans. He said no, the council shouldn't micro-manage.

"We charge the chief -- through the manager -- to hit targets of reduction of crime. It is up to the chief and his expertise to accomplish that goal," Cooksey said.

If the CMPD gets all 125 officers, the department plans to hire 50 by Sept. 14, 50 by Jan. 25 and the remaining 25 by April 26.

Previous Stories: July 28, 2009: Grant To Put 50 New CMPD Officers In Action