Raleigh picks veteran Charlotte police leader to be city’s next chief
Estella Patterson, deputy chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, was named Raleigh’s next police chief Thursday.
Patterson, who will be the the city’s 30th chief, understands the issues police departments are facing across the country during a new era of policing, Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David said in a news release.
“Now more than ever, leadership matters, community connections matter, and I believe Estella Patterson is the right person for the job,” she said.
Patterson’s annual salary will start at $205,000.
Outgoing Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown announced her retirement in late 2020 after 33 years with the Raleigh Police Department. Her last day will be June 30. Deputy Chief Todd Jordan will serve as interim chief until Patterson’s first day on Aug. 1.
“I am looking forward to strengthening the relationships with citizens and residents in the community and advancing 21st century policing ideals to make Raleigh the safest city in America,” Patterson said in the release. “I am thankful to all for their trust and confidence in me.”
31 candidates 3 finalists
Thirty-one people applied for the Raleigh police chief’s job.
Patterson, who has worked for the Charlotte department for 25 years, was one of three finalists to participate in a public forum last week.
The others were Robert Lowe, deputy superintendent of the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department and Darryl McSwain, police chief for the Maryland-National Capital Park Police-Montgomery County Division
Transparency, accountability and integrity build trust with the community, Patterson said during the forum.
“I am a person who holds myself to the highest standards,” she said. “In doing that, I will ensure those under me will do the same. In building trust and legitimacy with the community, you have to be connected.”
Rick Armstrong, spokesperson for the Raleigh Police Protective Association, congratulated Patterson and said he believes she’ll do a good job.
She expressed support for the rank and file officers, he said, adding that addressing morale within the department will be one of her biggest challenges.
The Raleigh Police Department had 75 vacancies among its total 793 sworn officer positions last month, a department spokesperson said. It had 13 vacancies among its 108 allotted civilian, non-sworn positions.
City ultimately accountable, says activist
Patterson will face a number of challenges when she assumes her role in August. Local activists have long advocated for reform and increased accountability, particularly in the last year of Deck-Brown’s tenure.
The coalition Raleigh Demands Justice has made several demands, including giving the Police Advisory Board more independence from the the city and the police department. The board, created in February 2020 to serve as a liaison between the City Council and Raleigh community, has been criticized for not having the power to fully investigate complaints against police.
Surena Johnson, coalition coordinator, for Raleigh Police Accountability Community Taskforce (PACT), said Patterson’s appointment has to be looked at in the greater context of accountability within the city.
“We’re going to see if Stella Patterson will make waves in a different direction and be proactive and listen to the needs of all of the city of Raleigh,” Johnson said. “I just want the city to be solution-based on all issues. The police chief is a drop in a bucket. She’s not the true authority.”
People should look at how Patterson’s superiors and elected officials handle public safety issues, she said.
“The city of Raleigh isn’t progressive,” Johnson said. “It tends to be reactive versus proactive.”
Fatal shooting by Charlotte police
Patterson was head of the Charlotte department’s Internal Affairs when an officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott in 2016, which sparked protests and riots in the city, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The police department concluded the officer, who said he feared for his life, acted according to department procedures, and the district attorney determined that the shooting was justified.
After the shooting, police officials promised change and hired a consultant, reviewed best practices and expanded use of body-worn cameras, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Still, many were critical of the police’s department’s response and stalled changes.
Scott’s family filed a lawsuit against police and the city in 2018, The Charlotte Observer reported.
More about Patterson
Patterson has a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. She also served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.
Patterson is also the current president of the Greater Charlotte Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and an executive board member of the N.C. Police Executives Association.
Additionally, she serves as a commissioner on the N.C. Education and Training Standards Commission, which regulates the training, certification and policy making for all police officers in North Carolina.
Staff writer Maydha Devarajan contributed to this story.
This story was originally published June 17, 2021 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Raleigh picks veteran Charlotte police leader to be city’s next chief."
