CMPD names officers in racist text scandal
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CMPD's headquarters in Uptown. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has identified the six officers involved in the racist text thread incident:
- Mateo Juarez (26), Joseph Kelly (29), Alexander Larsen (26), Tredan Maronic (24), Matthew Osborn (31) and Jeremiah Todman (25).
Why it matters: A week after the reports came to light, CMPD says it is releasing what it legally can under personnel laws.
- Community leaders have called on the department to take aggressive action to prevent the officers from obtaining employment elsewhere.
The latest: Four of the six officers have now resigned after an independent chain-of-command board cited them for termination on Oct. 9 following allegations involving racially charged text messages.
- The texts reportedly used the N-word and bragged about pulling over Black residents, as WBTV reported. The messages also revealed sexual and religious bias, the chief confirmed last week.
The breakdown:
- Joseph Kelly: Resigned Oct. 11. Hired Feb. 26, 2024.
- Matthew Osborn: Resigned Oct. 12. Hired Sept. 5, 2023.
- Tredan Maronic: Resigned Oct. 13. Also hired Feb. 26, 2024.
- Mateo Juarez: Resigned on Oct. 15. Also hired Feb. 26, 2024.
- Jeremiah Todman: Suspended without pay. Hired June 27, 2022.
- Alexander Larsen: Suspended without pay. Hired June 26, 2023.
Context: Seth Elliott, 25, is a seventh officer involved. The SBI arrested him on July 29 on a charge of illegally accessing a government computer in connection with alleged misuse of Flock technology.
- He was placed on unpaid administrative leave the same day and resigned on Aug. 4. He was also hired Feb. 26, 2024. WBTV reported that investigators discovered the texts during the SBI investigation into Elliott; Chief Estella Patterson said the messages dated back years.
What's next: The Civil Service Board has the final say in Larsen's and Todman's firing. Patterson has said she hopes to soon refer to them as former officers.
- Patterson also said CMPD will seek to have their law enforcement certificates revoked so they cannot become officers elsewhere in the state.