Charlotte PD names seven officers in racist text scandal as federal probe expands
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Chief Estella Patterson has released the names of seven officers involved in an investigation into racist, sexist, and religiously biased text messages. Five officers resigned after being cited for termination, one remains suspended pending a civil service review, and a seventh resigned earlier over a separate Flock camera misuse case. The messages, which included racial slurs and references to targeting Black drivers, were discovered during a probe into technology misuse. Patterson has requested an FBI civil rights investigation and is seeking to revoke the officers' state law enforcement certificates. While internal reviews of body-worn camera footage have not yet found evidence of discriminatory policing, the Charlotte Observer reports the officers are linked to over 300 county cases. No criminal charges have been filed, and the department is auditing its public interaction protocols to address potential systemic issues.