Former Raleigh police chief to head Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, first female police chief in Charlotte’s history

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — In a return to her patrolling roots, Estella Patterson has been named as the new police chief in Charlotte.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Patterson is the first female police chief in the city’s history.

Folks in the Triangle may know Patterson as the chief of police at the Raleigh Police Department from August 2021 until her retirement in March 2025.

Rico Boyce was sworn in as the new Raleigh police chief the following month.

Patterson began her career with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 1996 and was there for 25 years.

“Patterson started her career as a patrol officer before spending time at the academy in both Recruiting and Training,” the social media post said. “She also served in Internal Affairs before being promoted to Deputy Chief where she led the Administrative Services group followed by the Patrol Services group.”

She was Raleigh’s 30th police chief when she was sworn in.