Five officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) have resigned and a sixth remains suspended after allegedly exchanging racist text messages, which were discovered not through some noble whistleblower but during an investigation into misuse of the department's Flock camera system. The department released personnel files on Monday identifying the officers after a public information request by local media.

Chief Estella Patterson called the messages "deeply troubling" at a Thursday news conference, announcing a full review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records for the officers involved, plus a request for an FBI civil rights investigation. "As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization," Patterson said. She added that although the officers were hired before her tenure, "that does not lessen my responsibility or my commitment to making sure that what was discovered in this case is not a systemic problem in this organization."

The texts reportedly contained racist slurs and alleged use of the N-word, according to ABC News. The five former officers were named Monday as Mateo Juarez, Joseph Kelly, Tredan Maronic, Matthew Osborn and Alexander Larsen. All were hired in 2023 or 2024, and Patterson had cited them for termination. According to Charlotte outlet WSOC, one was president of their recruit class, and another received an employee of the month award earlier this year - because nothing says "employee of the month" like allegedly comparing your colleagues to a "clan rally," an apparent reference to the murderous white nationalist Ku Klux Klan.

A sixth officer, Jeremiah Todman, hired in 2022, remains suspended pending the investigation and a civil service board review. A seventh officer, Seth Elliot, resigned in August after allegedly improperly viewing Flock camera data - days after his arrest by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation for illegally accessing a government computer. The department issued a statement affirming its commitment to "accountability and providing access to public records in accordance with the law, while respecting the integrity of any ongoing investigations and potential legal proceedings."

So far, none of the officers have been charged with criminal wrongdoing related to the text exchanges. ABC reported it was unclear if any besides Elliot had retained an attorney; his lawyer, George Laughrun, did not return a request for comment. The Guardian has contacted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police lodge for comment.

Beyond seeking terminations, Patterson said she intends to pursue revocation of the officers' state law licenses and has begun auditing body-worn camera footage to review how officers interact with the public. "I have been concerned whether this type of behavior is systemic throughout the department," she said. "The overwhelming majority of our employees do exceptional work every single day. They come to work to serve this community, and they demonstrate that in their actions. They do their work with respect, with compassion, and professionalism. We will not allow the misconduct of a few to define the whole."