CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe to retire July 1

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Rodney Monroe will retire, effective July 1.

Channel 9 anchor Erica Bryant first tweeted the news Monday afternoon.

"I'm honored to have served as your chief for seven years," Monroe said.

IMAGES: CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe through the years

He was appointed chief in 2008.

READ: Police Chief Rodney Monroe announces retirement from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

"Chief Monroe has been an exceptional leader for the men and women of CMPD, and his unwavering commitment to strengthening police-community relations has proven to have a powerful and, I believe, lasting impact on our city," said Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter.

Monroe made history as Charlotte's first black police chief and helped bring homicides down to historic lows.

"Charlotte has been extremely fortunate to have Chief Monroe's leadership for the past seven years and his tireless promotion of positive and constructive community-police relations," said City Manager Ron Carlee.

When he arrived seven years ago, Monroe stepped into controversy.

He was the outsider coming from Richmond, chosen over some candidates from inside the department. Also questions rose about everything from his college degree to his management style.

But he was exactly the chief Julie Eiselt was looking for when she helped interview candidates.

"We had personally pulled the data on Charlotte and we had one of the worst crime rates in the country for a city our size," Eiselt said.

After a gunman tried to rob her outside the YMCA, Eiselt had started an organization called Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte. After six years of dropping crime numbers and a peaceful Democratic National Convention, Eiselt said Monroe delivered.

"I'd give him an 'A' because of where we were coming from," Eiselt said, and she would like him to stay longer.

If there's anything surprising about Monroe's departure, it's the timing. After six years that saw crime steadily dropping to near record lows, a month ago police announced that crime had suddenly spiked in the first quarter.

Monroe was clearly shaken and suggested that the city has grown faster than his department.

In seven years on the job, Monroe has never shied away from the tough decisions.

No case demonstrated that more than his decision to arrest CMPD Officer Randall Kerrick on a charge of voluntary manslaughter less than 12 hours after, police said, Kerrick shot unarmed Jonathan Ferrell 10 times.

But now, Monroe is stepping aside less than three weeks before Kerrick's case is set to go to trial.

Sources told Channel 9 the department has already started training special teams to handle potential unrest when the verdict comes.

But the man who stood on the front lines and got credit for keeping the peace during the Democratic National Convention won't be there this time, and some in Charlotte now are privately wondering why not.

Prior to joining CMPD, Monroe served as chief in Macon, Georgia; and in Richmond, Virginia. While serving in Richmond, his efforts led to the lowest number of homicides in over 25 years.

Chief Monroe described as 'compassionate supporter'

Monroe's retirement is shocking and sad news for the co-founder of Mothers of Murdered Offspring.

She described Monroe as a compassionate supporter and big protector.

WATCH: Residents reflect on CMPD Chief Monroe's legacy

Judy Williams said the chief made it a point to attend vigils honoring murder victims.

She told a story about Monroe stepping off to the side and taking a moment to grieve his sister.

Moments like that made Williams and other community members feel like he understood their cause.

She said families also appreciated the chief showing up on homicide scenes to comfort families.

"It has made people feel like they have someone on their side; someone in the thick of it. He would show up to every homicide right there, putting his hands on it," Williams said.

Williams also said that after a shooting at one of their vigils, the chief made sure they had police presence at every event. She's hoping whoever takes his place will also make victims' families a priority.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: