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Kerr Putney named new Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city officials named Kerr Putney the new Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief at a press conference Monday afternoon.

IMAGES: Kerr Putney through the years

It may have been the worst kept secret at city hall: City manager Ron Carlee's pick for the new chief was the man many expected.

"I appreciate your respect and support and i will not let you down," Putney said.

RAW: Kerr Putney speaks for first time as CMPD chief

Putney's rise to the top job at CMPD began in 1992 as a patrol officer on the streets of west Charlotte.  

He served as a sergeant, captain and major before being named deputy chief eight years ago.

In the last several years Putney has been out front as the department's voice on some tough issues and his direct approach has earned respect and critics within the department.

But a comment he made after the arrest of an officer for assaulting a prisoner hit a nerve with some.

"We can't have a criminal behind our badge and wearing our guns," Putney told a news conference after the arrest.

I think Putney's done a good job of coming back and saying that's not what he meant to say. He didn't mean to call him a criminal.

On May 18, Channel 9 anchor Erica Bryant broke the news that current CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe would retire from his position on July 1.

IMAGES: CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe through the years

"I'm honored to have served as your chief for seven years," Monroe said.

Monroe, who made history as Charlotte's first black police chief, took the position in 2008.

5 Things to Know: CMPD Deputy Chief Kerr Putney

  1. Kerr Putney is a deputy chief at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. He achieved the rank in 2007.
  2. Putney was a member of the 109th recruit class with CMPD in 1992.
  3. He is the deputy chief of the Administrative Services Group. He oversees the Training Bureau, the Administrative Services Bureau, the Planning and Research Division, Crime Analysis Division, the Communications Division, the Crime Reporting Unit, the Computer Technology Solutions Division, Professional Standards and Court Services.
  4. Putney was one of three finalists for the police chief position in Winston-Salem in 2013.
  5. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor's degree in criminology. He has a master's degree in criminology from East Carolina University.

Read our past coverage on Rodney Monroe's retirement:

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