WATCH | CMPD Chief Estella Patterson speaks publicly for first time

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Newly named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson speaks publicly for the first time.

CMPD named Patterson as the new chief last week. Patterson is the first woman named as police chief in Charlotte’s history.

“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has a long history of incredible leaders, who have collectively led CMPD to be one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country and Chief Patterson will continue that tradition,” Charlotte City Manager Marcus D. Jones said. “Chief Patterson’s deep experience with CMPD in addition to her recent experience leading the Raleigh Police Department made her an ideal candidate to continue CMPD’s successes but also bring new ideas to further the agency’s growth.”

Patterson was the Chief of the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) from August 2021 to March 2025. During her time in Raleigh, Patterson oversaw significant changes with the RPD including instituting a recruitment and hiring plan that made substantial progress in reducing that department’s vacancy rate from 150 to 40 in three years, as well as the creation of the Raleigh Police Foundation, which raised $4 million in two years to fund special projects to bolster employee morale. Additionally, Chief Patterson led her team in reducing violent crime, achieving a 100 percent clearance rate of homicides in 2024.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to return to Charlotte to serve the community and lead CMPD into its next chapter,” Patterson said. “Reducing violent crime and disorder, enhancing community engagement, and increasing employee morale and wellness are among my top priorities. I look forward to working collaboratively with law enforcement partners and community stakeholders to make Charlotte one of the safest cities in the nation.”

Patterson joined CMPD as a recruit in 1996 where she was the Class President of her recruiting class. In her 25 years with CMPD, she served in numerous roles. She started her career as a patrol officer, spent time at the academy as an instructor and in recruitment. She also spent time in Internal Affairs before serving as the Deputy Chief over Administrative Services and then the Deputy Chief over Patrol Services.

Patterson was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005, serving combat tours Kosovo and Iraq, twice receiving the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service and reaching the rank of Captain. She is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Patterson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma. She has held leadership roles with professional law enforcement professional associations including serving as an executive board member and president of the N.C. Police Executives Association and was a Commissioner on the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission which regulates the training, certification, and policymaking for all police officers in the state of North Carolina. Additionally, she is a Commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and a member of the Eastern NC chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).

The hiring process included significant input from community groups and key stakeholders. Charlotte City Council members, as well as leaders from civil rights organizations, community groups and faith-based organizations provided input as part of the search process. Additionally, more than 600 CMPD officers provided input through an anonymous organizational-wide survey. The city received more than 850 responses to a community survey.

Patterson will succeed CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings who is retiring at the end of the year. Jennings has been CMPD Police Chief since July 2020 and joined CMPD in 1992.

“It has been an honor and sincere pleasure to serve as Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department,” Jennings said. “I’d like to congratulate Chief Patterson and proudly welcome her back to CMPD as the next Chief of Police. She accomplished great things during her previous tenure here and I’m thrilled that she is returning to lead the department. As an internal candidate with external experience, she brings familiarity with the agency and already-established, strong relationships in the community. I look forward to supporting her and seeing all that she will accomplish for the department and for the City of Charlotte.”