CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has identified seven officers involved in an investigation into racist text messages.
Channel 9 first reported on the controversial messages last week, and CMPD Chief Estella Patterson said in a news conference that several of the officers had already resigned. She said all of the officers involved were cited for termination, and she was working to revoke their police licenses in the state.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Six CMPD patrol officers face termination over racist messages found in probe
- Fallout grows over alleged racist texts involving CMPD officers
- 3 CMPD officers resign amid racist text message probe
- District attorney now reviewing criminal cases involving CMPD officers linked to racist texts
No criminal charges have been filed against the officers at this time.
The investigation first came to light after the State Bureau of Investigation discovered the messages while looking into misuse of Flock cameras by former CMPD officer Seth Elliott.
On Monday, CMPD released the personnel information records under a state public records law that addresses misinformation surrounding the officers’ names.
[ ALSO READ: Fallout continues after discovery of racist, sexist messages between CMPD officers ]
Five of the six officers cited for termination on Oct. 9 submitted their resignations after being suspended without pay.
- Mateo Juarez, hired Feb. 26, 2024, was placed on administrative duty Aug. 10 and suspended Oct. 9 before resigning Oct. 15.
- Joseph Kelly, hired Feb. 26, 2024, was suspended Oct. 9 and resigned Oct. 11.
- Tredan Maronic, hired Feb. 26, 2024, was placed on administrative duty Aug. 7, suspended Oct. 9, and resigned Oct. 13.
- Matthew Osborn, hired Sept. 5, 2023, was suspended Oct. 9 and resigned Oct. 12.
- Alexander Larsen, hired June 26, 2023, was assigned to paid administrative duty Aug. 17 prior to his suspension.
Larsen submitted his resignation on Monday. The last officer cited for termination on Oct. 9 will remain suspended without pay pending further administrative review.
- Jeremiah Todman, hired June 27, 2022, was assigned to paid administrative duty Aug. 18 before his suspension.
Both officers are awaiting review by the Civil Service Board.
Elliott resigned earlier in the summer. Elliott was hired Feb. 26, 2024, and was arrested July 29 by the State Bureau of Investigation on charges of illegally accessing a government computer related to the misuse of Flock technology.
CMPD placed Elliott on unpaid administrative leave the day of his arrest, and he resigned Aug. 4 while the administrative investigation was ongoing.
Larsen and Todman remain suspended without pay pending their scheduled reviews before the Civil Service Board.
What did the racist messages say, and who said what?
CMPD Chief Estella Patterson revealed in last week’s news conference that the text messages dated back several years, and they included racist, sexist, and religiously biased messages.
The text messages included use of the N-word. The exact messages haven’t been shared publicly, however.
It’s also not clear who started the message thread or who made the racist, sexist, or religiously biased comments. We don’t know how often each officer sent messages or how they were involved in the conversations.
Rev. Corine Mack, the president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, says that doesn’t matter.
“You still were aware of not just racism, but intent to do harm to specific groups of people, and you took an oath to protect and serve,” Mack said.
Channel 9 asked Patterson last week if any of the messages showed that the officers were targeting Black drivers. Patterson said, “We investigated that, we do not have any evidence to support that.”
CMPD says that so far, nothing has pointed to officers violating anyone’s civil rights. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are also investigating that.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Check back for the latest developments.