By Nick Sullivan
The Charlotte Observer
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Republicans and Democrats alike celebrated Charlotte’s next police chief in a bipartisan show of support on Friday.
The city announced Estella Patterson will become the first female chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department following current Police Chief Johnny Jennings’ retirement at the end of this year. She worked with CMPD for 25 years before serving as Raleigh police chief from 2021-2025.
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“It kind of gives us the best of both worlds: Someone who understands who we are and brings fresh eyes from the outside,” said Democratic District 2 Councilman Malcolm Graham . “And I think she’s a truth teller, and she will be able to command respect inside the building as well as within the community.”
Graham described Patterson as “always personable, sharp, candid and professional.”
The Fraternal Order of Police pulled for Patterson to be the next chief, according to Krista Bokhari, the Republican candidate for City Council’s open District 6 seat.
“She is very well-liked and admired within the rank and file of CMPD, so I am thrilled about their choice,” Bokhari said. “That is one thing that the rank and file would say is, ‘Oh, I wish she didn’t leave and go to Raleigh. I wish she was here.’”
Bokhari’s husband served in the position she’s running for from 2017 until earlier this spring, when he resigned for a brief stint in the Trump administration.
Tariq Bokhari went toe-to-toe with Jennings over issues he believed were important to officers. Most notably a disagreement between the two over outer carrier vests paved the way to Jennings’ departure. The City Council approved, in secret, a $305,000 separation agreement with Jennings after he allegedly suggested he would sue over threatening text messages Bokhari sent during the vest saga.
The FOP released a short statement on Facebook saying its members repeatedly named Patterson as somebody they wanted to be their next chief. The union “wholeheartedly” supports her hiring, it said.
Kimberly Owens, Bokhari’s Democratic opponent running in District 6, also complimented Patterson as an “impressive selection.” She highlighted Patterson’s military experience as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005 and two-time recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, which she thinks adds gravitas to her skill set.
At-large Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera commended Patterson for breaking barriers in conjunction with delivering results.
“As a mother of two young girls, I’m especially inspired by Chief Patterson’s achievement. Her journey shows our daughters that with hard work and integrity, there are no limits to what they can accomplish,” Ajmera said. “As Chief in Raleigh, she reduced vacancies, strengthened morale, and achieved a 100% homicide clearance rate — a testament to her results-driven and compassionate leadership.”
Owens preferred residents not linger on identity politics in the first place, she said.
“I think that focus always sets us up for failure,” Owens said. “I’m not trying to take away any of the accomplishments of being a first, but that is just such a disservice to the person who’s put in the time and energy and really the work to be considered for a position of this sort of size and importance.”
Council members say Patterson must focus on transparent communication and an active presence in the community in order to succeed in the role.
Public safety has been a top-of-mind concern for Charlotte residents since the light rail killing. People need a chief who can begin a chapter of outward-facing communication and ease those concerns, Graham said.
“A lot of people are just not buying that Uptown is safe or that crime is down. Perception is very important. Whether it is statistically accurate is pointless,” said Edwin Peacock III, a District 6 Republican Councilman who’s running for election at-large.
He advocated for a law-and-order candidate during the hiring process and hopes Patterson will adhere to a “broken window philosophy.” That involves going after low-level offenses to send a message that laws will be enforced across the board.
Patterson needs to be upfront and visible about safety on public transit, Peacock said. In contrast, outgoing chief Jennings has remained out of public eye in recent months as the city has grappled with these discussions.
“I see this appointment as the start of a new era for CMPD, one that’s grounded in community trust, our officers’ wellness and data-driven leadership,” Ajmera said. “That’s the leadership Charlotte needs.”
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