Around Town

So you want to be able to describe your new police chief

By CharlotteFive Staff
Deputy Chief Kerr Putney spoke to the media on Friday September 12, 2014 announcing the arrest of a CMPD officer on assault charges for breaking the collar bone of a suspect in an interview room. The charges stemmed from an internal investigation that showed Officer Jason Van Aken used excessive force against Terance Malachi, 30, who was in custody on a charge of carrying a concealed gun, police said. The incident happened Aug. 14 in an interview room at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmentâ™s Metro Division.
Deputy Chief Kerr Putney spoke to the media on Friday September 12, 2014 announcing the arrest of a CMPD officer on assault charges for breaking the collar bone of a suspect in an interview room. The charges stemmed from an internal investigation that showed Officer Jason Van Aken used excessive force against Terance Malachi, 30, who was in custody on a charge of carrying a concealed gun, police said. The incident happened Aug. 14 in an interview room at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmentâ™s Metro Division. John D. Simmons jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

There’s a new sheriff chief in town.

Kerr Putney will step into his new role as police chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department once Rodney Monroe retires July 1. He has been with CMPD for 23 years and is the first Charlotte chief to be handpicked from CMPD in 25 years.

How to describe the new police chief:

Tall or short? Tall: 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds

Introvert or extrovert? Introvert

Native or transplant? Transplant. He is from Roanoke Rapids, N.C.

Leader or follower? Leader. His leadership style has actually been criticized as being blunt and demanding, but he has claimed he’s making an effort to become a better communicator.

Passionate? Yes. “This is where I’m passionate about,” he told the Observer of the Queen City. “Charlotte is home and all the training and all the things I’ve gone through in my career have prepared me.”

College grad? Yes. He was a UNC Charlotte 49er and got a degree in criminal justice.

Passive or ambitious? Ambitious. He shared that, because CMPD has been curbing crime, he wants to focus on training and developing personnel while strengthening community relationships.

Influenced or influential? Both. His approach to life has been influenced by three lessons from his late father: Confront your fears. Own your mistakes. Persevere.

“If I felt people didn’t have a voice,” he said, “I’d use my voice.”

Photo by John Simmons / Charlotte Observer.

This story was originally published June 15, 2015 at 11:00 PM.

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