Domestic Violence Concerned About CMPD Restructuring

Silence can be deadly for domestic violence victims, so the recent announcement of plans to restructure Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit caused a bit of an uproar.

“This area of the state is the leading area for domestic violence homicides,” said Capt. Lisa Goelz at Tuesday’s Domestic Violence Advocacy Council meeting.

She said part of Chief Rodney Monroe's plan to get more officers on the streets means the Domestic Violence Unit, Juvenile Victims Unit and Youthful Offender Unit will roll their 24 detectives into one unit with 10 detectives and a sergeant.

Monroe said he's trying to move away from specialty units and wants his officers to focus on being a specialist in everything.

“All too often, I think police, we build silos, all these silos,” he said. “Instead of a specialty area, we will have detectives a little more cross-trained.”

Danielle Lombard, who chairs the council, said she's reserving judgment, but she understands why so many are concerned.

“I think we hear the Domestic Violence Unit is being lessened to bring officers to fight crime, and I think (some fear that) may send the message domestic violence isn't a crime,” she said.

But Monroe said he would never take away from a unit that is so personal for him. Domestic violence became a reality for him when his sister, a victim of domestic violence, was killed.

He said the way the police treated him and his family six years ago is how he chooses to lead his department.

“I was shown compassion and caring, and others deserve that same thing,” he said.