NC auditor’s office releases results of investigation into CMPD chief settlement
State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office on Friday released the results of its investigation into Charlotte’s settlement with outgoing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings.
WSOC and WFAE first reported in early May the Charlotte City Council agreed in closed session to a six-figure financial settlement with Jennings. The deal reportedly prevented a lawsuit over now former-council member Tariq Bokhari’s push to get new bulletproof vests for police officers.
The city went weeks without publicly confirming the settlement or disclosing the details of it before Boliek’s office announced its intent to investigate May 20.
“Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter,” Boliek said at the time. “There is no tax dollar free from public scrutiny.”
Jennings released the details of the settlement himself — worth $305,000 — and announced his plans to retire at the end of the year days later. The deal included a retroactive pay increase to January of $14,016.70; a retention bonus of $45,698.56; an extra 40 days of vacation valued at $45,284.70; $175,000 in severance; and $25,000 in legal fees.
The auditor’s report released Friday “made no findings with respect to the funds used to pay the settlement or with respect to the city’s actions under the Public Records Act or Open Meetings Law.” But it does include multiple recommendations for the city “in order to promote full transparency with the public.”
It suggests the city “consider adopting a more nuanced policy or practice regarding the release of information related to settlements with employees” within the bounds of personnel privacy laws.
“At a minimum, the amount paid to an employee as a result of a settlement agreement is public information,” the report said.
It also calls for Charlotte to consider reviewing its procedures for maintaining and releasing minutes from closed-session meetings.
In a response letter included in the report, Mayor Vi Lyles said the city will “revisit” state law on releasing settlement agreements and “revise, if necessary” its practices.
The report also says Charlotte should “reassess” its practice of paying “substantial settlement-related costs” out of the city’s general fund rather than its risk management fund. It found only the $25,000 in legal fees the city agreed to pay Jennings came out of the risk management fund, with his severance, retroactive pay increase, retention bonus and vacation payout all coming from the general fund.
Lyles’ letter said the city “will analyze the types of settlement-related costs and the appropriate fund from which these costs should be paid” within the next six months.
Lyles said in a statement on the report city staff “have committed to considering the State Auditor’s recommendations, reviewing the relevant laws and, if necessary, will revise and adjust internal practices.”
“I’m pleased the report had no findings of wrongdoing and confirms the city’s position that we remain in compliance with the Public Records Act, the Open Meetings laws, the personnel privacy statute and all applicable laws … Ensuring the public’s trust is critical and I appreciate Mr. Boliek’s attention to this and his team’s work on the report,” she said.
Boliek took to social media after the report was released Friday to critique Lyles’ response to it.
“Our report brought transparency to the City of Charlotte. However, as shown in the mayor’s response, City leadership doesn’t share our interest in being open and transparent about spending the people’s money,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 11:47 AM.
