Estella Patterson has been named the new police chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), City Manager Marcus D. Jones announced. Patterson, who began her career with CMPD and most recently served as chief of the Raleigh Police Department. She will assume the role following Chief Johnny Jennings’ retirement at the end of the year and will be the first woman to serve as police chief in Charlotte’s history.
During her tenure as chief of the Raleigh Police Department, Patterson oversaw a reduction in the department’s vacancy rate from 150 to 40 over three years, according to CMPD. She also helped establish a Police Foundation that raised $4 million in two years to support special projects and employee morale initiatives, and her leadership contributed to a 100 percent clearance rate in homicide cases in 2024.
Patterson expressed her goals for CMPD, stating she is “deeply humbled and honored to return to Charlotte to serve the community and lead CMPD into its next chapter,” with priorities that include reducing violent crime, enhancing community engagement, and improving employee morale and wellness, as per CMPD.
Patterson’s career with CMPD includes roles from patrol officer to Deputy Chief, covering multiple departments. She joined the department as a recruit in 1996 and later worked on CMPD’s training and administrative programs. Patterson also served in combat tours in Kosovo and Iraq, receiving two Army Commendation Medals for her service.
Patterson’s appointment followed a selection process that included input from both the community and CMPD personnel. More than 600 officers participated in an anonymous survey, and over 850 responses were received from community members. The city also held an introductory press conference to provide a platform for media coverage and public engagement regarding Patterson’s new role and the department’s direction.
Outgoing Chief Johnny Jennings expressed support for Patterson’s appointment in an official announcement, saying, “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.”
