CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Five months after taking the oath to lead the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Chief Estella Patterson is defining her vision for Charlotte. She’s focused on reducing crime, rebuilding community trust, and taking care of the officers behind the badge, while acknowledging there is still plenty of work ahead.
In a one-on-one interview with WCNC Charlotte, Patterson, who rose through the ranks from patrol officer to chief at the department where her career began, laid out her priorities, addressed ongoing challenges, and shared the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
“I want my legacy to be one that I cared about this community, and I cared about crime… reducing crime so that everybody can be safe in our community,” Patterson said. “Internally, I want my employees to know, and I want to be known as the chief that cares about her people.”…