How Freedom of Information Act was used in Monroe case
Information act used in Monroe case T-D got information from city police department in reporting diploma issue
It was no secret that he took only two courses at Virginia Commonwealth University. Rodney Monroe, then Richmond's police chief, publicly spoke of that shortly before he graduated in 2007.
But far less apparent were how lapses in judgment and university procedures combined to allow him to get that diploma even though he fell far short of requirements for his bachelor's degree.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch used the Freedom of Information Act to help determine what courses Monroe had taken, how much the Richmond Police Department paid for his courses, and to provide insight into internal communications leading up to the approval of his degree.
Under federal law, VCU could not release information on Monroe's academic record. Restricted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, university officials couldn't say what courses Monroe had taken at VCU or how many credits had been transferred from other schools.
However, some of that information was available under FOIA because the Richmond Police Department had funded Monroe's coursework.
Records obtained from the police department through FOIA requests showed that it paid $15,937 toward his bachelor's degree, including nine courses he took through the University of Phoenix, in addition to his VCU courses.
E-mail exchanges obtained through FOIA requests also showed that the decision to give Monroe the degree began with seemingly routine messages between VCU administrators. Only briefly mentioned was the fact that Monroe was in violation of an accreditation requirement that 25 percent of his courses be taken at VCU.
The e-mail traffic noted the need to be "very flexible" with those requirements -- a warning of the storm that would erupt on campus a year after Monroe graduated.
An internal VCU investigation and a state probe requested by members of the General Assembly found the degree to be deficient. Monroe, who became head of the Charlotte, N.C., police department as the controversy began, has said he is considering what to do with the degree.
A spokesman yesterday said he has made no decision yet.
Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or
.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
To think the TD is still posting articles about this. Ms. Kapsidelis there must be other issues in our area that require our time. We are bashing a man who turned this shallow city around in three years! How does a city that was once known as the “murder capital of the U.S.” repair its image?While violent crime is rising across the nation, in 2007 Richmond is experiencing its lowest crime rate in 25 years. For at least ten years, violent crime plagued the city of nearly 200,000. The situation grew worse each year, landing Richmond among the “Top 5” cities in the U.S. with the highest murder rates (per capita). Then, something began to change. Violent crime went down 11 percent in 2005, 14 percent in 2006 and September 2007, violent crime had dropped another six percent. I am sure that the taxpayers would be highly gratified to know that police productivity has significantly increased. When it comes to making our streets safe, reinvigorating our Police force, and gaining ever-greater confidence and support within our community, our current statistics clearly show that Police Chief Rodney Monroe is making all the difference. I think Chief Monroe earned the whole whopping $15,000 used for his education. How much did Mayor Jones spend on security for HIMSELF during the inauguration? Ms. Kapsidelis you should do your magnificent research on the useless spending our government is creating in our economy.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement