CMPD Chief Kerr Putney faces immediate challenges

As the first Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer to rise through the ranks to become chief, Kerr Putney, who was sworn in Monday, said he knows his leadership will be scrutinized heavily in coming weeks.

Here are some of the biggest challenges Putney will face:

Randall Kerrick’s trial

In three weeks, Officer Randall Kerrick goes on trial for voluntary manslaughter in the 2013 killing of Jonathan Ferrell. Ferrell, who is black, was on his way home when he wrecked in eastern Mecklenburg and sought help at a nearby house. Officers were dispatched on what they thought was a potential break-in. Kerrick, who is white, shot Ferrell 10 times.

Inside the department, many officers believe police leaders were too quick to charge Kerrick. Some officers wonder if the department would support them after a controversial shooting, said Charlotte City Council Member Claire Fallon.

The trial will also put CMPD’s training and procedures under scrutiny. The department provides more diversity training than any other in the state. But Kerrick, who’d been an officer for two years, hadn’t been through the most extensive diversity training.

Crime rate increases

Under former Chief Rodney Monroe, crime ticked down for several years. In 2014, there were 42 homicides in Charlotte, the lowest number of killings since police started keeping uniform records in the 1970s.

But murders and other violent crimes have risen sharply during the first three months of 2015.

Homicides are up by 80 percent, rapes by 34 percent, aggravated assaults by 33 percent and burglaries by 3 percent, a CMPD report shows. Second-quarter crime statistics have not been released.

Crime in Charlotte-Mecklenburg typically surges during the summer, when children are out of school. Police haven’t launched a summer initiative to tackle violent crime during those months, which brought down crime last year.

New style

Monroe’s direct yet affable nature was one of his best qualities as chief. Even people who criticized the department said they liked Monroe, the department’s first black chief.

Putney is a self-described introvert.

Putney said the city would see more of his humor, compassion and other aspects of his personality, and that he would have no problem connecting with community leaders and crime victims. He also said he had to be “the heavy” for Monroe, a role he is ready to relinquish.

Putney seems aware of his reputation. At Saturday’s meeting of the Ballantyne Breakfast Club, he spoke for nearly an hour, including 30 minutes of questions from the audience. He touched on everything from the militarization of the American police departments to his fears of having a teenage driver.

As the session was winding down and the moderator said the incoming chief would take just a few more questions, Putney looked at the crowd and smiled. “I told you I could go all day,” he said. “Not bad for an introvert.”

Body cameras

Monroe was chief as the department explored putting a body camera on every patrol officer, but Putney will be the first chief to serve in the body camera era.

The cameras have widespread support. Civil rights advocates say the devices will make police and the people they encounter more civil. And that they’ll give the department, the public and the court system more insight into those encounters.

Experts say many issues surrounding body cameras remain unresolved.

The department is fighting to keep the recorded information secret as media and other groups clamor for access to what the cameras show.

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 8:34 PM with the headline "CMPD Chief Kerr Putney faces immediate challenges."