Charlotte racist text scandal: seven CMPD officers named, four resign

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police has publicly identified seven officers linked to a racist text scandal. Four have resigned; a Civil Service Board will decide on terminations.

CMPD names seven officers in racist text scandal as fourth resignation confirmed

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department publicly identified all seven officers linked to a racist text scandal on Monday, 19 October, wbtv.com reports, following mounting pressure from community leaders and the local NAACP to release the names.

The department had moved to terminate six officers on Friday, 9 October. By Monday, four of those six had resigned. Officials did not specify which individuals had stepped down voluntarily.

"This release is intended to comply with the public availability of these records per G.S. § 160A-168(b), and to address misinformation regarding the officers' names," a department spokesperson wrote. "Under state law, CMPD cannot release the race or ethnicity of any employee."

A seventh officer, Seth Elliott, was separately identified as part of the text matter. Elliott was placed on administrative leave on 29 July after agents from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation arrested him for illegally accessing a government computer in connection with misuse of the Flock surveillance network. He resigned on 4 August. According to multiple sources who spoke to investigative reporter David Hodges, the racist texts were first uncovered while the SBI was probing Elliott over that same Flock misuse.

Chief Patterson: 'deeply troubling'

Police Chief Estella Patterson confirmed the core details during a briefing on Thursday, 15 October, describing the situation as "deeply troubling." At that point she said six officers were involved and that an independent chain-of-command board had unanimously recommended termination for the three who had not yet resigned. A fourth resignation was confirmed the following Monday.

Patterson made clear that the final decision does not rest with her. "The next step in the process lies with the Civil Service Board, which has the sole authority to terminate sworn members of the department. I do not have that final say," she said, adding that she fully concurred with the board's recommendation.

Sources who spoke to WBTV anonymously described the text thread as including a contest among officers over who could pull over the most Black drivers, along with frequent use of a racial slur in references to using force against and firing on Black residents.

Patterson said the department's internal investigation has reviewed arrests, traffic stops and body-worn camera footage but has so far not produced evidence of conduct specifically targeting Black drivers. She nonetheless characterised the content of the messages in broad terms. "The biases show racial, sexual, [and] they also show religious biases," she said.

The chief announced that the department intends to pursue revocation of the officers' North Carolina law enforcement certificates. "I hope that they will not be an officer anywhere in this country," Patterson said, adding that she has asked every partner agency — including the U.S. Department of Justice — to assist in the investigation.

Federal review under way

U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson confirmed his office is examining a possible civil rights violation, while cautioning that such cases carry a high evidentiary burden. "The standard is very, very high in civil rights cases. And that's because of the First Amendment. You have a First Amendment right to be stupid and to say stupid things and, quite frankly, to say racist things, even though you shouldn't," Ferguson said.

Ferguson acknowledged he had not read the texts himself but credited Hodges's reporting for giving him an overview of their content. He said his office would prosecute if evidence of wrongdoing emerged, but stopped short of guaranteeing federal charges.

NAACP demands accountability and reform

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP held a press conference on 16 October calling on police to publicly identify the officers and urging community leaders to assess whether anyone had been unfairly targeted. NAACP chapter president Minister Corine Mack said the revelations were devastating, even if not surprising.

"Our lives are on the line every single day. And to hear the people who took an oath to protect and serve, who are now trying with all their might to harm us, it's devastating," Mack said. "Most of us, like myself, we're not surprised. But many who want to have an open mind are."

Mack called for stricter hiring and training standards, including mandatory implicit bias and anti-racism training, psychological testing, and thorough background checks into candidates' histories and activities outside of work.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)