MONROE, N.C. — Dozens of criminal cases in Monroe are being dropped because prosecutors say police haven't passed along critical information.
Union County's District Attorney has dismissed charges in 39 cases involving drugs, guns, fraud and one shooting.
Trey Robison declined to talk with Eyewitness News about his decision but new City Manager John d'Agostino is quoted in a statement from the City of Monroe as saying, "We are going to work very closely with the District Attorney's Office in a way that will result in a better delivery of justice."
Dismissal documents filed in court say police officers failed to deliver case files to prosecutors provided incomplete information and in multiple drug cases never took evidence to a police lab for analysis.
The result was that cases as far back as 2011 were sitting idle.
"It appears to be the officers, the investigators, were not following through on the investigation," said Pete Hovanek, a city spokesman.
Hovanek said the city is now implementing new procedures including a computer program that helps police keep track of their cases.
The city is also considering hiring a new liaison to work with the District Attorney's Office.
"We're owning up to it and letting folks know we're going to work hard to fix it so this does not happen again," Hovanek said.
All of the cases that were dismissed were first investigated while Debra Duncan was police chief. Duncan retired Sept. 1. On Thursday, she insisted she wasn't aware officers weren't following through on investigations.
"The officers were trained. I don't know what happened," Duncan said.
When asked if she takes responsibility for the actions of officers while she was chief, Duncan said, "Anything that happened on my watch, I'm responsible for."
Monroe now has an interim chief and a new city manager. The city said the 10 officers who investigated the cases that were dismissed are the subjects of an internal investigation.
They could face disciplinary actions ranging from a verbal reprimand to termination.