3 Charlotte police officers resign amid racist-text probe

Resignations and review

Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers resigned amid an investigation into alleged racist messages shared in a text group involving six officers. Police Chief Estella Patterson announced the resignations during a Thursday news conference.

Patterson described the allegations as serious and “deeply troubling.” Three other officers remain under investigation, and Patterson said she supports terminating them.

Charlotte’s Civil Service Board is reviewing the evidence. Patterson said the board has sole authority to decide whether sworn CMPD officers should be fired. Police have not publicly identified the six officers or released the messages.

Checks for possible misconduct

Charlotte station WSOC reported that the messages included a racial slur and were discovered during an investigation into alleged misuse of Flock cameras by a former CMPD officer.

Patterson said CMPD reviewed the officers’ body-camera footage, traffic stops, traffic-stop data, arrest records and outside complaints. She said those checks had not uncovered evidence of additional misconduct as of Thursday.

CMPD is also working with federal agencies to examine whether any civil rights violations occurred. Patterson said she is concerned about whether the alleged conduct extends more broadly within the department.

Certification process

Patterson said CMPD will seek revocation of the North Carolina law enforcement certifications held by the three officers who resigned. Revocation would prevent them from serving as law enforcement officers elsewhere in the state.

The chief also said North Carolina requires officers to complete ethics training. The Civil Service Board’s decision and the federal civil rights review remain pending.