Charlotte Appoints Its First Female Police Chief
Estella Patterson, former Raleigh police chief, will become the first female police chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
City Manager Marcus Jones announced that Patterson, a veteran law enforcement officer, will replace Chief Johnny Jennings, who will retire at the end of the year.
Patterson spent 25 years with the Charlotte Police Department before leading the Raleigh Police Department from August 2021 to March 2025.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has a long history of incredible leaders, who have collectively led CMPD to be one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country, and Chief Patterson will continue that tradition.
Patterson will be the first woman to lead the department.
Author summary: Estella Patterson becomes Charlotte's first female police chief.