Five officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) in North Carolina have resigned after an internal investigation uncovered an alleged racist group chat in which officers reportedly discussed competing to pull over the highest number of Black drivers. The resignations were confirmed by the department as of October 19, 2026, following the discovery of messages containing racial slurs and other offensive comments. Two additional officers remain suspended without pay, and a seventh officer connected to the chat had resigned earlier in a separate investigation.
Investigation Uncovers Disturbing Messages
The allegations became public after local broadcaster WBTV reported that the messages included a competition over which officer could pull over the most Black drivers. The chat reportedly contained repeated racial slurs, including the N-word, along with discussions about using force against Black residents and firing weapons at them. The content also raised concerns about possible racial, sexual, and religious bias among the officers involved.
CMPD Chief Estella Patterson described the allegations as “deeply troubling” and stated that the messages demonstrated biases inconsistent with the standards expected of officers entrusted with protecting the public. “As a Black woman who began my career here, in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization,” Patterson said.
Discovery During Separate Probe
The messages were reportedly discovered during a separate investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation into former CMPD officer Seth Elliott, who was accused of misusing the department’s Flock Safety camera network and other police technology. Investigators downloaded data from Elliott’s phone during that inquiry, which led to the uncovering of the group chat. The material was subsequently shared with CMPD, prompting its own investigation into the officers’ communications.
Following the discovery, the department reviewed the officers’ traffic stops, arrests, body-worn camera footage, and complaint histories to determine whether their alleged biases had affected their treatment of residents. Patterson said the initial review had not uncovered evidence that the officers specifically targeted Black residents in their recorded police encounters. However, she asked federal partners to investigate the possibility of civil rights violations.
Department Actions and Community Response
The department also began reviewing officer communications and recruitment procedures and said it would pursue the revocation of the officers’ law-enforcement certifications, which could prevent them from working as police officers elsewhere in North Carolina. The controversy prompted criticism from local leaders and civil rights advocates, who stressed that residents should be able to trust police officers to enforce the law fairly, regardless of race.
Charlotte Mayor Robert Harrington condemned the alleged conduct, saying racism and bias had no place in the police department and that every resident deserved fairness, dignity, and respect from those sworn to protect them. The investigation remains ongoing. The allegations concerning the group chat have not, by themselves, established that the officers unlawfully targeted or mistreated particular residents, and the department’s review of their conduct is continuing.
