Charlotte, NC — Five Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers have resigned and a sixth remains suspended after an internal investigation uncovered alleged racist text messages, prompting the police chief to request an FBI civil rights investigation.
Chief Estella Patterson said the messages surfaced during a separate inquiry into misuse of the department’s Flock camera system. She described the communications as “deeply troubling” and said the discovery triggered reviews of the officers’ body-camera footage and arrest records.
Local reporting indicates the messages included racist slurs, including alleged use of the N-word, and one exchange reportedly compared the group to a “clan rally,” an apparent reference to the Ku Klux Klan.
The five officers who resigned were Mateo Juarez, Joseph Kelly, Tredan Maronic, Matthew Osborn and Alexander Larsen. Patterson had already recommended their termination. Officer Jeremiah Todman remains suspended while his case proceeds through a civil service review.
Patterson said she also intends to seek revocation of the officers’ state law-enforcement certifications.
The chief acknowledged concerns about whether the conduct reflects a broader problem within the department and said CMPD will continue auditing officers’ interactions with the public.
No officers have been criminally charged in connection with the text messages.
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