Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

History

The CMPD was formed in 1993 with the merger of the former Charlotte City Police Department and the Mecklenburg County Rural Police Department. Mecklenburg and neighboring Gaston County were the two counties out of the state's 100 counties to have county police in addition to the sheriff's offices. County police perform law enforcement tasks in the county with police powers anywhere in the county just like the sheriff, but the sheriff primarily handled the courts and jails. The North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation combining the two agencies.

In 2013, press reports indicated that the Citizens Review Board had ruled against citizens complaining of police misconduct in every case brought before the panel in its fourteen-year history.

Shooting of Jonathan Ferrell

Main article: Shooting of Jonathan Ferrell

On September 13, 2013, 23-year-old Jonathan Ferrell was shot ten times and killed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Randall Kerrick, after Ferrell's car broke down and he had knocked on a person's door for help in the early hours of the morning. Police arrived at the scene in response to a report of suspicious behavior and possible breaking and entering. Ferrell was unarmed, refused police orders to stop, and continued running towards Kerrick. Ferrell was first Tasered and then shot. A lawsuit filed by Ferrell's family against the city was settled for $2.25 million in 2015. Kerrick is currently being tried for voluntary manslaughter. On August 21, 2015, the manslaughter charge was declared a mistrial on the basis of 8-4 jurors (in favor of acquittal).

Shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

Main article: Shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

The shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American man, occurred on the afternoon of September 20, 2016, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Plainclothes police officers arrived at an apartment complex about a mile from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to search for another man for whom they had outstanding warrants. Once there, they saw Scott in his SUV allegedly smoking cannabis and handling a handgun. They left and called for backup, as they were not marked as police officers at the time. Once other officers arrived, they approached Scott's vehicle with weapons drawn and ordered him to drop his gun and exit the vehicle. Scott did not initially respond. The original unmarked officers, now wearing CMPD plate carriers, moved to the rear of Scott's vehicle and broke out a rear window, presumably to pressure Scott out. Scott exited the vehicle, gun in hand, and stood in front of several alert officers. The officers ordered him to drop the gun a total of 17 times, which he allegedly refused to do. Officer Brentley Vinson (a Black African American & two-year veteran of the police force) fatally shot Scott; he has been placed on paid administrative leave.

The shooting sparked riots, which continued on into the morning of the next day and subsequent night.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Village at College Downs apartment complex on Old Concord Road, where CMPD officers were searching for an unrelated suspect with outstanding warrants. Scott, who was parked in the lot, allegedly exited his vehicle armed with a handgun, and then immediately returned to his vehicle. Mistaking Scott for the suspect they were looking for, officers began to approach Scott's vehicle when he again exited the car, still armed. The officers then allegedly gave Scott numerous loud verbal warnings to drop his weapon, which many witnesses at the scene heard. When Scott allegedly refused to comply, Officer Brentley Vinson fatally shot Scott, who died at the scene.

Despite neither woman being at the scene, and the sister being asleep, both Scott's sister and daughter claimed that he was in his car reading a book when he was gunned down by the officer, but no book was found there. CMPD Chief Kerr Putney told reporters that a handgun was seized at the scene, and a photo of the gun was released by WBTV. Several witnesses at the scene also observed the weapon, and not a book.

Organization

The CMPD is organized into the Office of the Chief of Police, who is assisted by five deputy chiefs.

Patrol services fall under the Field Services Group, headed by a deputy chief. The Field Services Group is divided into three service areas, each headed by a major. Each service area comprises four to five patrol divisions, each headed by a captain. Each patrol division consists of two response areas, each headed by a lieutenant.

Other groups contain bureaus, headed by majors. Each bureau is also organized into divisions, commanded by captains, and units, commanded by sergeants.

Personnel

As of 2020, the department consisted of 475 unsworn and 1,982 sworn personnel, including one chief of police, five deputy chiefs, 14 majors, 35 captains, 45 lieutenants, 157 sergeants, and 1,725 detectives and officers.

Breakdown of the makeup of the rank and file of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department: Break down of personal in the year 2000

• Male: 86%
• Female: 14%
• White: 80%
• Black: 18%
• Hispanic: 1%
• Asian: 1%

Equipment

Weapons

CMPD officers are issued the Glock 17. Qualified officers may also be equipped with a shotgun and/or patrol rifle.

Vehicles

The department utilizes a variety of vehicles, including but not limited to:

• Chevrolet Caprice
• Dodge Charger
• Ford F-350
• Ford Police Interceptor Sedan (Ford Taurus)
• Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Ford Explorer)

Rank structure

The insignia of the Chief of Police was two gold stars until 2014, when Chief Rodney D. Monroe upgraded it to four stars.

;Former ranks

Patrol areas

References

References

1. (June 26, 2020). "Here's how much money goes to police departments in largest cities across the U.S.". [[USA Today]].
2. "Our Organization - Home".
3. "Our Response Areas". Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
4. "2010 Annual Report". Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
5. "Woman 'felt dismissed' after filing complaint against CMPD", by Fred Clasen-Kelly, Charlotteobserver.com, February 26, 2013
6. (May 14, 2015). "City reaches $2.25 million settlement in Ferrell civil lawsuit". [[Time Warner Cable News]].
7. Almasy, Ed Lavandera,Boris Sanchez,Steve. (September 21, 2016). "One person shot during violent Charlotte protest; officer hurt".
8. "Gun recovered at fatal Charlotte police shooting was reported stolen, sources say".
9. (September 23, 2016). "Video shows moments before Keith Lamont Scott's shooting".
10. Staff, WBTV Web. (September 22, 2016). "Source: Picture appears to show gun next to Keith Lamont Scott's body".
11. . ["CMPD: Our Response Areas"](https://charlottenc.gov/CMPD/ResponseAreas/Pages/default.aspx). *City of Charlotte*.
12. . (2021). ["CMPD 2020 Integrated Annual Report"](https://www.flipsnack.com/cmpdrpa/cmpd-2020-integrated-annual-report.html). *City of Charlotte*.
13. [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/lemas00.pdf Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers] {{webarchive. link. (September 27, 2006)
14. "Wayback Machine".
15. "Metro Division". Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
16. [http://www.charlottefive.com/charlotte-police-chief-to-retire-7-fascinating-facts-about-rodney-monroe/ Fascinating facts - see image]
17. (July 14, 2017). "CMPD Promotes New Assistant Chiefs".
18. . ["Our Organization: Office of the Chief"](https://charlottenc.gov/CMPD/Organization/Pages/Office-of-the-Chief.aspx). *City of Charlotte*.
19. "Charlotte Observer, 8 March 2013".
20. [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/27/2963927/cmpd-promotes-officers-today.html CMPD promotes officers] {{webarchive. link. (March 6, 2012)
21. "Providence Division". Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
22. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC FOP Lodge #9".
23. link. (May 14, 2014)
24. [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05/12/4905337/cmpd-promotes-23-officers.html#.U3OJoygUphN "CMPD promotes 23 officers," 12 May 2014]