Chief (Ret.) Rodney Monroe serves as Deputy Monitor. Chief Monroe brings extensive experience organizing communities and developing meaningful partnerships with residents, businesses, and faith-based organizations to increase trust, respect, and legitimacy while reducing crime, improving quality of life, and reducing the public’s fear of crime.

Chief Monroe has worked with other police department settlement agreements as well. As the Independent Monitor appointed by a federal judge, Chief Monroe leads an auditing team working with Meridian, Mississippi, Police Department (MPD) personnel, the Meridian community (particularly youths), and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel to ensure that the MPD complies with the provisions outlined in the agreement. Meridian has achieved substantial compliance with all areas of the settlement agreement. Chief Monroe also has experience with the DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) Collaborative Reform Initiative, specifically working with the North Charleston Police Department following the police shooting of Walter Scott.

Chief Monroe also brings expertise in reviewing critical incidents. For example, he provided subject matter expertise and technical assistance in the critical incident review of the November 15, 2015, shooting of Jamar Clark by Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officers. His work explored a wide range of critical policing issues.

Chief Monroe is a recognized leader, innovator, and practitioner of community policing and has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He was chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Police Department (CMPD), nationally recognized for its excellence in community policing. Under his leadership, the department refocused its efforts on crime fighting and crime prevention through a more accountable organizational structure, new technology, and an enhanced community policing strategy. Before he joined CMPD, Chief 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 25 years. Chief Monroe also worked in a variety of leadership positions within the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department.