CHARLOTTE — Six patrol officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have been cited for termination in connection with the discovery of racist text messages, sources confirm.
The messages, which contained the use of the n-word, were found during an investigation into Flock camera misuse by former officer Seth Elliott.
In July, Elliott was accused of using a license plate reader system to track an individual.
He was eventually charged with illegally accessing a government computer for non-law enforcement purposes.
Sources told Channel 9 that the racist messages were discovered as part of that investigation.
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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released a statement addressing the allegations, saying:
“The Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) remains unwavering in its commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and service. We will not tolerate any behavior that contradicts our core values or jeopardizes the trust we have built with the community we serve.
Our residents are at the heart of our mission, and we take pride in our longstanding track record of fostering meaningful relationships that strengthen public trust.
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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The president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, Rev. Corine Mack, says Chief Patterson called her yesterday to inform her about the situation.
Mack said she is disturbed by the messages and wants the matter taken further. She wants the officers involved to have their law enforcement certifications revoked.
Mack said it is distressing that someone in a position of authority would speak that way.
“I don’t want to paint all of law enforcement with the same brush, but clearly, I’m concerned that you have bigots in uniform with state authority. And unfortunately, they can cost a person their life,” Mack said.
The next steps will be for the city’s Civil Service Board to hear evidence and make a final decision on whether the six officers will be fired.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.