CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Five officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) in North Carolina have resigned after an internal investigation into allegations that police officers exchanged racist text messages.
The investigation included a reported competition to see who could pull over the highest number of Black motorists.
The allegations came to light after investigators examined the phone of former CMPD officer Seth Elliott.
The investigators reportedly discovered a group chat containing racist remarks and messages about Black residents.
The investigation has raised questions about police conduct and accountability.
It also raised questions whether the officers’ past interactions with members of the public require further scrutiny.
Five Police Officers Resign, One Remains Suspended
According to personnel information released by CMPD, six officers were cited for termination on October 9 following allegations involving racially charged messages.
Five of the six officers subsequently resigned in lieu of termination.
The sixth, Jeremiah Todman, remained suspended without pay pending a review by the city’s Civil Service Board.
The five officers who resigned are Mateo Juarez, Joseph Kelly, Alexander Larsen, Tredan Maronic and Matthew Osborn.
Their resignations occurred between October 11 and October 19, according to records reported by WCCB Charlotte.
Former officer Seth Elliott, who had also been linked to the group chat, resigned separately in August while under investigation for alleged misuse of police technology.
Racist Messages and Alleged Competition
The reported group chat allegedly contained racial slurs, including repeated use of the N-word, and discussions involving the use of force and firearms against Black residents.
Sources cited by local broadcaster WBTV said the messages also described a competition among officers to see who could pull over the most Black drivers.
One message reportedly compared the group’s conversations to a Ku Klux Klan gathering.
The allegations prompted an internal investigation by CMPD after the messages were discovered during a separate inquiry involving Elliott.
The alleged competition concerned traffic stops, according to the reports.
The available reporting indicates that officers were competing to make arrests, though not that every stop or arrest by the officers was racially motivated.
Investigation Began with Alleged Misuse of Police Surveillance Technology
The text messages emerged during an investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation into Elliott’s alleged misuse of the Flock Safety camera network and other police technology.
Elliott was accused of unlawfully accessing a government computer in connection with the alleged misuse.
Investigators reportedly examined data from his phone and passed relevant messages to CMPD, which then opened its own investigation into the officers’ communications.
Elliott’s case is separate from the inquiry into the alleged racist messages.
Allegations concerning the group chat should not be treated as criminal convictions.
The available reports do not establish that criminal charges have been filed against the officers over the messages themselves.
Police Chief Orders Review of Officers’ Records
CMPD Chief Estella Patterson described the allegations as serious and deeply troubling.
The department said it reviewed body-worn camera footage, traffic-stop data, arrest records and external complaints involving the officers.
Patterson said the initial review had not found evidence specifically establishing that the officers targeted Black motorists in their official duties.
However, she requested assistance from federal partners to examine the possibility of civil-rights violations.
The department has also undertaken a broader review of officer communications and hiring procedures.
Patterson said CMPD would seek to revoke the law-enforcement certifications of officers found to have engaged in disqualifying misconduct.
That will potentially prevent them from serving as police officers elsewhere in North Carolina.
Concerns Over Public Trust and Past Cases
The allegations have prompted concerns about public confidence in policing and whether the officers’ past traffic stops, arrests and testimony should receive additional scrutiny.
Community advocates and legal commentators have called for accountability and closer examination of cases involving the officers.
Any decision to reopen, challenge or dismiss a case would depend on the relevant evidence and legal review.
The allegations alone do not establish that previous arrests or prosecutions were unlawful.
The investigation remains significant because it concerns the language allegedly exchanged privately by officers.
It also concerns whether the messages point to conduct that affected the treatment of residents while the officers exercised police powers.
CMPD’s investigation and the requested federal review are expected to help determine whether any civil-rights violations or other misconduct occurred.
