BY MICHAEL MARTZ

Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe, one of three finalists to become police chief in Charlotte, N.C., has been linked indirectly to a federal investigation of alleged misuse of grant funds overseen by his department when he was chief of police in Macon, Ga.

Monroe, who came to Richmond in 2005, said today that his office carried out the program created by the city administration.

"It was and is my belief based upon communications, documents submitted, and approvals received, that we were in compliance," Monroe said in a written response to questions by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

In an April 2 letter to Macon's new mayor, Robert Reichert, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald L. Johstono said unnamed officials had falsely certified that the city had properly spent about $350,000 in federal grant funds given to Macon churches in 2002 to help at-risk youth.

Johstono did not threaten criminal prosecution, but warned Reichert that the city could face a civil suit seeking more than $1 million, if a settlement were not reached.

Johstono was not available for further comment.

In his written response, Monroe said the money distributed to churches was part of a federal budget earmark that the administration of then-Mayor C. Jack Ellis converted to a faith-based initiative to help at-risk youth.

Monroe said the Ellis administration selected the recipients of the grant funds and the coordinators of the grant program before transferring its administration to the police department. He said the Macon police department carried out the grant program under guidelines established by the city's economic development and finance offices.

Ellis told the Macon Telegraph that he is confident the money was spent properly. "I am confident that every penny that we spent, every penny . . . people did what they were supposed to do," he said in a story published yesterday.

The Times-Dispatch was not able to reach Ellis for further comment.

Contact Michael Martz at mmartz@timesdispatch.com