The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and @CLTgov proudly announce the next police chief, Estella Patterson. Patterson, who was formerly the Chief of Police at the Raleigh Police Department and started her career in law enforcement with CMPD, is the first female police chief in Charlotte’s history.   Patterson joined CMPD in 1996 where she was the president of her recruiting class. In her 25 years with CMPD, she held a variety of positions and ranks throughout the department. Patterson started her career as a patrol officer before spending time at the academy in both Recruiting and Training. She also served in Internal Affairs before being promoted to Deputy Chief where she led the Administrative Services group followed by the Patrol Services group.   Patterson was the Chief of the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) from August 2021 until her retirement in March 2025. Please join us in congratulating Chief Patterson and welcoming her back to CMPD!

We would like to extend an official welcome to the newest members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Congratulations, Recruit Class 201! We are honored to have you join our ranks and proud to stand beside you in service to the community of Charlotte. The courage, discipline and commitment that you have already shown is remarkable, and we can't wait to see how that grows as you embark on your journeys as official CMPD officers.

Please join us in congratulating our newest officers who graduated today after completing an accelerated lateral training academy! These experienced law enforcement professionals have chosen to bring their skills, dedication and commitment to service to our community. Welcome to the CMPD family, Lateral Class 35! We’re proud to have you join our ranks, ready to protect and serve the people of Charlotte.

Today, we celebrated the graduation of the Civilian Leadership Development Institute Class 003! Congratulations to our professional staff members who went above and beyond to take their leadership skills to the next level. We look forward to seeing the positive impact you'll continue to make as you lead with excellence and inspire change within our department and community.

Today, we honored 8 individuals for their exemplary dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment to serving the city of Charlotte as we celebrated their promotions. Each promotion represents not only a professional milestone, but also a deep commitment to our department and the community they serve. Congratulations to the newest CMPD Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captain and Major — we thank you for your continued service and look forward to the positive impact you’ll make in your new roles.

This morning, CMPD welcomed 44 new officers to its ranks. Congratulations Recruit Class 200! The months of hard work, dedication and determination have culminated into this moment of incredible accomplishment. Today, you took your last steps as recruits and took your first steps as official Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers. We look forward to the great work you will do serving the Charlotte community.

Congratulations to our 2025 College Intern Program graduates! The past eight weeks, they've shadowed officers across our patrol divisions and specialty units gaining valuable firsthand experience and insight into the opportunities offered with a career in law enforcement. We look forward to seeing what comes next in their journey and hope to see them back at the Academy as recruits. Wishing them all a promising future in public service!

Today, 55 CMPD recruits began their journey to the badge! Over the next several months, they'll learn the mental and physical demands of a career in law enforcement. Good luck, Recruit Class 202!

Today marked a groundbreaking moment for CMPD as we officially broke ground on what will soon be our newest division, the Northwest Division.  This momentous occasion represents more than just a new building; it reflects our unwavering commitment to serve every community in Charlotte to the best of our ability.  We’re excited to deepen our connection with the northwest Charlotte communities and look forward to the important work we’ll accomplish together.

Congratulations to our newest officers: Cam, Lucky and Luffy! They're tracking, detecting and protecting one paw print at a time - sniffing out justice for the residents of Charlotte. Keep an eye out for our upcoming video series following their journey through training! #K9Unit #K9Graduates