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CHARLOTTE — Three of six Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers accused of sharing racist text messages have resigned, Chief Estella Patterson announced at a Thursday morning news conference. Patterson confirmed she supports terminating the remaining three officers. The officers were made up of three different races.
The racist texts go back several years but CMPD didn’t know about them until the SBI finished its investigation into former Officer Seth Elliot, who allegedly misused the department’s Flock camera system. That was when Internal Affairs’ investigation discovered the texts.
Channel 9 reported the text messages between the six CMPD officers, including the use of the “N-word” and other racist comments.
An independent chain-of-command board then held a hearing and unanimously recommended that the remaining three officers be cited for termination. Patterson said the department will request that these officers have their law enforcement certifications revoked so they can’t be officers anywhere else.
Paterson’s words echoed through the corridor of the Spectrum Center where the CMPD briefing was held this time.
“The allegations against them are serious; they’re deeply troubling, and frankly, I’m disappointed that we’re even having to talk about this today,” she said. “As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization. ”
Four of the six officers were in the same class as the police academy, a class from 2024. One of them was president of their recruit class. Another was awarded an employee of the month award earlier this year. All six were hired before Patterson’s tenure.
“So, I have not read all the messages. I can share with you that the biases show racial, sexual … they also show religious biases,” Patterson said.
Although Patterson concurred with the recommendation to fire the remaining officers, department rules dictate that the police chief does not have final termination authority. Official termination decisions rest entirely with a separate administrative body.
“I fully concur with that decision,” Patterson said. “The next step in the process lies with the Civil Service Board, which has the sole authority to terminate sworn members of the department.”
Patterson added that she hopes “to refer to the other three as former employees.
Following the discovery of the messages, department officials conducted immediate internal audits covering the involved officers’ body-worn camera footage, traffic stop data, arrest records and external complaint histories.
CMPD reported that no evidence of misconduct has been uncovered in those specific records so far, but officials have engaged federal authorities.
Patterson added that, “CMPD asked its federal partners to look at the possibility of civil rights violations.”
Beyond the specific officers involved, Patterson raised concerns about whether such behavior exists systemically across the department. CMPD is expanding its review of officer behavior by continuing video audits and using internal monitoring tools.
“I can look to the public and tell you I will hold people accountable for doing their jobs and doing it well,” the police chief said. “This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our organization.”
Patterson said she and a deputy chief recently visited one of the department’s divisions to speak candidly with officers and gauge morale.
She said the officers she spoke with agreed the department reached the right decision regarding the allegations and wanted to focus on doing their jobs.
Patterson said the department will continue monitoring morale and emphasized that she supports officers who do the right thing.
“Our employees said to me, ‘We just want to go out and do the work,’ and I’m so happy to hear that,” Patterson said. “But we’re going to be gauging the morale because this is important. I want my officers to know that I support them when they do the right thing.”
Statement from Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington:
I have been closely following the situation involving members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and I share the concerns many residents have expressed. Racism and bias have no place in our police department or anywhere in our city. Every resident deserves to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect by the people sworn to protect them and every resident deserves to feel that they will be treated in this manner.
I have confidence in the steps Chief Patterson has taken. As she shared this morning, CMPD acted quickly. Three of the officers involved are no longer with the department, and Chief Patterson has recommended the remaining three for termination. CMPD has also audited these officers’ body-worn camera footage, traffic stops, arrests and complaint histories, and to date has found no evidence that residents were targeted. The Chief has gone further by supporting decertification of the officers to ensure they do not work as law enforcement officers elsewhere in the state and has asked federal partners to independently review the matter.
I also want residents to know that I have faith in the men and women of CMPD. The vast majority of our officers serve this community with honor, professionalism and care every day. The actions of a few do not define them, and they too deserve a department where this kind of conduct is not tolerated.
Public safety depends on public trust. We will keep working to earn and strengthen that trust.
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Hannah is a reporter for WSOC-TV.
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