CMPD Chief says violent crime continuing to drop in 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council focused day one of their annual strategy retreat on public safety dominating the agenda. Members heard from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson and other city departments about what resources they need to make Charlotte safer.

While 2026 is up one homicide to date, Patterson said crime is still trending down, with an overall 15% drop and 10% drop in violent crime.

This is on top of CMPD’s 2025 crime report, which showed overall crime fell 9% in 2025, while violent crime dropped 21%. 

However, Patterson emphasized that officer retention remains an unresolved challenge.

“We have to be competitive as an organization — The way to do that, I think, is through salaries,” Patterson said. “Also, the take-home cars. I think when we lose officers to other agencies, those are the two things we’re often hearing.”

Councilmembers also heard support for Crisis Intervention Training, which is used during mental health emergencies. Patterson has said she wants all officers to be CIT certified, a priority that has gained urgency following the murder of Iryna Zarutska.

Councilman Ed Driggs said the challenge extends beyond what the city alone can control.

“In the context of Iryna and DeCarlos Brown, there was a public debate — why wasn’t that guy locked up?” Driggs said. “I talked to the city attorney, who said it’s very hard to get an involuntary commitment if you go to court. That person has rights, and they will resist often.”

The conversation also included non-law enforcement approaches to safety, including investments in affordable housing and youth development.

Monday night’s meetings will continue with the highly debated I-77 expansion. Council will return to Ballantyne Tuesday, spending most of the day on mobility issues.

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