CMPD’s Estella Patterson sworn in as first female chief in Charlotte
Estella Patterson, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s first female chief, was sworn in at a ceremony in southwest Charlotte Friday morning that at times felt like a presidential inauguration or college graduation.
Patterson sat on a stage in a building that holds the department’s police academy, and was joined by the city’s and state’s most powerful elected officials, including Mayor Vi Lyles, City Manager Marcus Jones, and Gov. Josh Stein.
During a speech, Patterson reiterated points she made when she was first introduced at a press conference in November, including embracing technology and boosting officer morale.
“I can say very clearly, and I can see very clearly, that the journey will not be easy, and it will not be quick,” Patterson said. “Nonetheless, I stand committed, I stand resolute, and I’m prepared for such a time as this to wear this badge proudly and to serve this community with distinction.”
She watched out over a crowd of people that included family and friends, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Raleigh police officers, and other local and state officials. She watched as CMPD officers marched in a line to display the North Carolina and U.S. flags, while another sang the national anthem, and as audience members gave her three standing ovations.
And she listened as the mayor, city manager and governor took turns not just welcoming her to the job, but welcoming her back home. Patterson, whose tenure as chief started on Monday, worked as a CMPD officer for 25 years before becoming the Raleigh police chief in August 2021. She retired there in March.
They showered her with compliments and gave her their endorsements. They playfully ribbed Raleigh police officers in the audience that they were happy to pull her out of retirement. And they spoke of her accomplishments and leadership abilities throughout her career.
“Chief Patterson, at the end of the day, your work, my work, our work, it’s the same,” Stein said. “It’s about keeping people safe in their communities, and we’re going to keep at this work, because it never ends.”
Stein highlighted Patterson’s accomplishments in Raleigh, including reducing the number of vacancies and testing a backlog of rape kits.
Departments need to raise officer salaries, hire more police officers, and find ways to recruit and retain officers, he said.
The governor also said there needs to be a “well-functioning” mental health care system to ensure people don’t harm themselves or others.
Eventually, Patterson was joined by her husband, Lance Patterson, a former battalion chief at the Charlotte Fire Department. He pinned a badge to her lapel and hugged her. Shortly after, her favorite niece (from Charlotte, she jokingly specified) joined the couple on stage.
Patterson’s niece, Jaelynn Holder, held the Bible that Patterson placed her hand on while reciting her oath, given by Mecklenburg County Superior Court Judge Carla Archie.
Then Patterson got to speak. She reflected on her career, and thanked her family, both police departments, the politicians on stage and in the crowd, outgoing CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, her church family and Jesus Christ.
The ceremony also, at times, sounded like a church service, with Patterson thanking God and members of the audience calling out “amen.” A retired chaplain, Terry Sartain, led the room in prayer at the beginning of the ceremony and said Patterson was chosen by Jesus to be the department’s new chief. Near the end of the ceremony, Bishop Dr. Robert Merriwether Sr. led another prayer.
Patterson was chosen by City Manager Marcus Jones, who announced his choice in October. Her annual salary is $285,000.
The city administration has provided no documents in response to a public records request related to payments being made to Patterson as she takes over the job; city officials have declined to say if that’s because the city has no records about her compensation, or has records but is not releasing them under an exemption in state law.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM.
