CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden is speaking out over alleged racist text messages sent by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers. Five Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers have resigned.
McFadden spent nearly 40 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department before becoming sheriff. He said he is bothered by the text messages, but not shocked.
McFadden said in this day and time it’s text messages, but back in the 1980s, when he was an officer, it was something else.
“The last bathroom in the stall of the men’s bathroom had graffiti on the wall – everyday racist graffiti,” McFadden said. “Back in the 80’s you were very careful on whose toes you stepped on. You could be targeted very easily, so you were careful because you wanted your career – just like anybody else.”
McFadden said people now are speaking up, but he is still bothered that this sort of thing keeps happening.
Since news of the alleged racist text messages broke, McFadden said other police agencies have been calling him to ask about what’s going on inside the department.
“They know that is my birthplace of law enforcement. They know I have a love for CMPD. It’s always going to be the place that gave me my opportunity, so I am concerned of the image of CMPD and the image of the Sheriff’s Office,” McFadden said.
WBTV asked McFadden if he is reminding his deputies about what to text and what not to text, and how he is getting that message across.
“I could send out an email – I still may do that, but we talk about it daily,” McFadden said. “I like to stress it weekly on how we treat people. We are a reflection of this badge. You are a reflection of the Sheriff’s office. I think we do well – we do very well. I’ve got more compliments than complaints. Can we do better absolutely, and will we do better absolutely.”
WBTV asked the sheriff his thoughts on whether Charlotte-Mecklenburg police could recover from this scandal.
“I think they can. I think they’ll bounce back to a limit. Does America trust law enforcement? Can you bounce back from that?” McFadden said.
McFadden said he does not know the officers involved but thinks this story is opening up old wounds of racism.
“I never want to speak against another officer, but I think the citizens need to understand that we have a problem. America has a problem, and it’s deeper than that. And this one incident is not going to resolve it no matter if you fire them suspend them or charge them. It’s not going to resolve the issue,” McFadden said.
McFadden said having candid community conversations about this reality will help rebuild trust.
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