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Top Cop Under Pressure
Aired October 09, 2002 - 13:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Every moment that ticks by could provide new clues to help police track down the sniper. But they can also be jarred by another shot claiming a life. The responsibility weighs heavily on Chief Charles Moose.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer introduces us to the top cop under a lot of pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Someone is so mean-spirited that they shot a child. Now, all of our victims have been innocent, have been defenseless, but now we're stepping over the line.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charles Moose is taking this investigation personally, a trait which is also consistent with his past. If there is a pattern to Moose's career, it could be one of high profile success, sometimes clouded by emotion. Moose grew up in North Carolina, later moved to Portland, Oregon, and rose through that city's police ranks to become chief in 1993. His former colleagues we spoke to portrayed Moose as a cop's cop, someone who cared deeply about solving crimes and the officers that he counted on to do it.
He upgraded Portland's community policing system and bought a house in one of the city's worst neighborhoods to lead by example.
TOM POTTER, FMR. PORTLAND POLICE CHIEF: Some people see problems as problems. He sees them as opportunities.
BLITZER: But once, when a mob of protesters marched on his house, he called for police protection, was accused of using excessive force and criticized for later calling his move to the neighborhood a mistake. He's credited with lowering Portland's crime rate and in a case that resonates today, Moose's department was widely praised for solving the serial murders of three prostitutes in 1999.
But during his term as chief, information leaked out that as a young officer, he had made a series of racial slurs against whites who he thought were discriminating against him.
MOOSE: You know, certainly I'm sad that those responses occurred. I'm shamed of my behavior in those situations. I'm clearly embarrassed that I have to relive these situations again.
QUESTION: In a lawsuit filed in the late 1990s, Moose was accused of discriminating against a gay police captain. The captain had been investigated for allegedly hiring male prostitutes. But in fact, Moose had gone recommendations from top city officials that the captain be fired, and instead suspended him. The lawsuit was dismissed.
In 1999, he became chief of the Montgomery County Police Department. Those who know him say he's carried his commitment and emotion with him.
MOOSE: If you wont want Channel 9, if you want "The Washington Post," if you want CNN to conduct this investigation, let me know.
BLITZER: Evidenced by today's series of outbursts against the media and profilers on TV.
MOOSE: So, I would hope that those police professionals would realize that maybe they don't live here, maybe they don't have children that live here, and so, it's all fun to be on television, but maybe they need to come here live here, sit outside, and have coffee, and then let's see how open they'll be to ranting, and raving, and calling the suspect or the suspects names.
BLITZER: A public servant conducting a very public investigation, not afraid to let his emotions become public.
Wolf Blitzer, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 9, 2002 - 13:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Every moment that ticks by could provide new clues to help police track down the sniper. But they can also be jarred by another shot claiming a life. The responsibility weighs heavily on Chief Charles Moose.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer introduces us to the top cop under a lot of pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Someone is so mean-spirited that they shot a child. Now, all of our victims have been innocent, have been defenseless, but now we're stepping over the line.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charles Moose is taking this investigation personally, a trait which is also consistent with his past. If there is a pattern to Moose's career, it could be one of high profile success, sometimes clouded by emotion. Moose grew up in North Carolina, later moved to Portland, Oregon, and rose through that city's police ranks to become chief in 1993. His former colleagues we spoke to portrayed Moose as a cop's cop, someone who cared deeply about solving crimes and the officers that he counted on to do it.
He upgraded Portland's community policing system and bought a house in one of the city's worst neighborhoods to lead by example.
TOM POTTER, FMR. PORTLAND POLICE CHIEF: Some people see problems as problems. He sees them as opportunities.
BLITZER: But once, when a mob of protesters marched on his house, he called for police protection, was accused of using excessive force and criticized for later calling his move to the neighborhood a mistake. He's credited with lowering Portland's crime rate and in a case that resonates today, Moose's department was widely praised for solving the serial murders of three prostitutes in 1999.
But during his term as chief, information leaked out that as a young officer, he had made a series of racial slurs against whites who he thought were discriminating against him.
MOOSE: You know, certainly I'm sad that those responses occurred. I'm shamed of my behavior in those situations. I'm clearly embarrassed that I have to relive these situations again.
QUESTION: In a lawsuit filed in the late 1990s, Moose was accused of discriminating against a gay police captain. The captain had been investigated for allegedly hiring male prostitutes. But in fact, Moose had gone recommendations from top city officials that the captain be fired, and instead suspended him. The lawsuit was dismissed.
In 1999, he became chief of the Montgomery County Police Department. Those who know him say he's carried his commitment and emotion with him.
MOOSE: If you wont want Channel 9, if you want "The Washington Post," if you want CNN to conduct this investigation, let me know.
BLITZER: Evidenced by today's series of outbursts against the media and profilers on TV.
MOOSE: So, I would hope that those police professionals would realize that maybe they don't live here, maybe they don't have children that live here, and so, it's all fun to be on television, but maybe they need to come here live here, sit outside, and have coffee, and then let's see how open they'll be to ranting, and raving, and calling the suspect or the suspects names.
BLITZER: A public servant conducting a very public investigation, not afraid to let his emotions become public.
Wolf Blitzer, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
