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"The overwhelming majority of the work that police departments do is not secretive," says Monroe. "The majority of what we do we should be able to share with the public. We always have to look for and find ways to improve upon that trust; ways we can be inclusive of the community in what we do and how we do it and why we do it."
Trust that can be easily eroded in certain aspects of the community, like Charlotte's Hispanic population.
One Saturday in late June, two Hispanic men in south Charlotte were robbed by a man impersonating a police officer, according to a report by WSOC-TV.
"People out here know what certain people's fears are and they seek to exploit those fears," Monroe says. "Whether you're talking about a con man trying to swindle an elderly person or someone impersonating a police officer or someone trying to intimidate a certain minority group, they have calculated the risk and the success of their illegal deed. I think that any group needs to be mindful of that. Part of that is: how do we better protect ourselves? It's a constant communication on how do we improve upon ways to make communities and individuals safe."
At press time there had been no report of an arrest in the case. But there are other issues in the Hispanic community when it comes to a relationship with CMPD and law enforcement as a whole. Angeles Ortega-Moore, director of the Latin American Coalition, says the Hispanic community is concerned about the 287(g) program at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department.
According to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the 287(g) program is a means by which state and local law enforcement agencies may enter into agreements with the department of Homeland Security so that officers may receive training from ICE to perform immigration enforcement functions -- such as identification, processing and detention of immigration offenders.
Ortega-Moore says she hopes Monroe doesn't join up with 287(g).
"It doesn't make our community safer. On the contrary, it makes our community much more dangerous because people won't report any crimes," she says. "We're hoping that it's something he would consider leaving where it is right now, as far as the police department is concerned."
Ortega-Moore says her group plans to give the chief time to get to know Charlotte before setting up a meeting with him.
"It's sort of like when [CMS superintendent] Peter Gorman came to town everybody wanted to meet with him. I'm trying to give [Monroe] some space for the man to settle down," she says. "But certainly, it is something that I'm looking at to meet with him and hear what is his plan for the community."
She adds that over the years, Hispanics and CMPD have enjoyed a good relationship and much of that is credited to the International Relations Unit. She hopes that's one of the things that Monroe keeps going at the department.
"If there was a discussion about canceling that program, I would be very concerned about it," she says.
One concern that the entire city undoubtedly shares is the rising crime rates. In the latest crime statistics released from the department, property crimes like residential burglary and thefts from cars rose significantly.
Residential burglary was up 13.2 percent; car thefts rose 27.3 percent over last year. Crime even visited neighborhoods like Dilworth and Plaza Midwood -- places once considered "safe" -- in greater numbers, which angered many residents. As a result, some Plaza Midwood neighbors took to patrolling the streets armed with guns.
"I think Plaza Midwood has been experiencing something that's not unlike what has been experienced citywide," says Leslie Shinn, president of the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association.
It isn't Shinn's group that carries guns; it's the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, which she says isn't affiliated with PMNA.
"I think neighbors looking out for neighbors is always good. I'm a little concerned about armed, untrained patrol," she says. "I think the more eyes you have on the street the better you are. Do I want all of those people armed? I don't know about that."
Monroe also says he's concerned about the armed patrols.
"Is that the way our system in society is designed for us to arm ourselves and walk the streets, patrolling the streets? No. I could never say that is something that I believe should happen. I believe it is systematic of a couple of things that [are] happening where citizens don't feel protected and in the same vein they don't feel that their communities are respected by individuals that would come out and do harm to them. They feel that people think they can come out there and do harm to them and get away with it."
