CMPD's next chief vows to fill officer vacancies, target repeat offenders
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Charlotte's incoming police chief, Estella Patterson, said Monday she intends to fill all officer vacancies as she assumes the role, then seek funding to increase the size of the city's roughly 1,850-officer force.
Why it matters: Amid rising citywide safety concerns, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has grappled with a persistent officer shortage and dwindling confidence in local law enforcement.
Catch up quick: Patterson was named Charlotte's first female chief on Friday. She begins her role Dec. 1.
- She spent 25 years with CMPD, rising from a recruit to a deputy chief, before becoming Raleigh's chief for four years. She "retired" in March.
What she's saying: "My number one priority will be to look inwardly within the department to increase the morale and the wellness," Patterson told reporters at an introductory press conference, "because when our employees are whole, they can better serve the whole community."
Patterson said she plans to launch a "robust recruitment effort" and ensure all recruitment classes are large and full.
- "As our city continues to grow, inevitably, the demand for police force resources will increase," she said.
- Once all vacancies are filled, she said she intends to ask Charlotte City Council to approve more positions.
- In Raleigh, Patterson took the helm about a year after George Floyd's murder in 2020, when police morale was falling nationwide. Despite this, she successfully reduced Raleigh's vacancies from 150 in 2021 to 40.
To reduce crime, Patterson said the department must continue leveraging technology and work with public safety partners to hold "prolific" offenders accountable.
- "We will be relentless in our pursuit to identify, arrest and work with our state and federal partners to prosecute offenders," Patterson said.
- Repeat offenders are a persistent challenge in combating crime, CMPD has stressed. One Charlotte officer recently told a Congressional committee that repeat offenders make up most of his arrests, and they're regularly back "out on the streets, while I'm still writing the report."
Between the lines: City Manager Marcus Jones said the open chief position attracted "a lot of applicants," which he narrowed to 35 "highly qualified" candidates, then 12, then four finalists.
- Based on a community survey, Jones said Charlotte wanted a leader who could address the "reality as well as the perceptions" of crime and grow the department.
By the numbers: In its most recent report, CMPD shared that overall crime is down 8%, violent crime has fallen 20% and homicides are down 24% from last year. CMPD leaders suggest the public's perception of crime is skewed because of "high-profile incidents" and social media.
- However, Uptown has seen a 12.3% increase in violent crime, according to crime statistics. That includes nine homicides in Central Division this year through Sept. 30, compared to three in the same period last year.
The intrigue: In a rare appearance, outgoing chief Johnny Jennings said CMPD was "in good hands" with Peterson at the press conference. Jennings has kept a low profile since announcing his retirement and receiving a $305,000 settlement to stop him from suing the city.
- Patterson "is an internal candidate with deep agency familiarity, but her experience as a police chief in Raleigh also gives her invaluable external experience," Jennings said.
- Patterson said Jennings has been a mentor to her for 15 years.