Several days after Estella D. Patterson was sworn in to lead the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department — the first woman to hold that position — she met with QCity Metro Publisher Glenn H. Burkins for an open-ended interview.
She talked about her goals for the department and her desire to work closely with Charlotte communities, especially those most impacted by crime.
To use her own words, Patterson “grew up” in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department — she spent 25 years there, assigned to positions ranging from patrol officer to deputy chief. She left in August 2021 to lead the Raleigh Police Department, then announced her retirement in late 2024…