Estella Patterson is the new police chief in Charlotte, makes history. CMPD is known for bias, Charlotte cops will arrest you on West Sugar Creek and violate your rights, thinking most black people are criminals
On October 31, 2025 City of Charlotte Manager Marcus D. Jones hired Estella Patterson as the new Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Police Chief. Estella is the former Raleigh Chief of Police. She quit that job and got the Charlotte job, making around $250,000 a year. Estella makes history as the first black female police chief for CMPD.
Estella 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.
Estella was the Chief of the Raleigh Police Department from August 2021 to March 2025. Estella joined CMPD as a recruit in 1996. In her 25 years with CMPD, she served in numerous roles.
She also spent time in internal affairs before serving as the Deputy Chief over Administrative Services and then the Deputy Chief over Patrol Services.
Estella left CMPD to become the Raleigh police chief, she left that role and then came back to CMPD as police chief.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has a long history of racially targeted arrest, getting arrested themselves, and arresting people for no reason.
Charlotte cops often times automatically assume just because a black person is in a bad neighborhood, that the black person is automatically a criminal.
Cops will then violate the victim’s constitutional rights by illegal search and seizure, and then arrest the victim for no reason or for a made up unlawful reason.
Estella was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005, serving combat tours in Kosovo and Iraq, twice receiving the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service and reaching the rank of Captain.
Estella 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.
Estella has this to say about getting the job:
“I am deeply humbled and honored to return to Charlotte to serve the community and lead CMPD into its next chapter. 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.”
