Racist messages sent by CMPD officers could end in terminations, reports say
Six Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers face termination over using racial slurs in text messages uncovered during an investigation into one officer’s Flock camera abuse, Charlotte Observer partner WSOC reported.
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The messages reportedly surfaced as part of an investigation into Seth Elliott, a CMPD officer who used internal license plate reader technology to look up someone as a favor to one of his college friends. That friend was dealing mushrooms and marijuana in Boone, the Observer previously reported, and an undercover officer had been buying from him. Elliott exposed that officer when he told his friend what Flock system found.
Details of what exactly officers said in the racist messages are slim, but WCNC Charlotte reported that one officer said “our texts sound like a clan rally.”
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In a statement shared with local media, CMPD said “we will not tolerate any behavior that contradicts our core values or jeopardizes the trust we have built with the community we serve … In her first 100 days in office, Chief Patterson visited every unit within the department to clearly communicate expectations and reinforce our collective responsibility to maintain the utmost ethical standards. Under her leadership, CMPD continues to strive for excellence, accountability, and transparency in all we do.”
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This is a developing story.
