Estella D. Patterson was sworn in as Chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) on December 1, 2025, marking her as the first female chief in the city's history. She returns home to Charlotte after dedicating 25 years to CMPD, rising from a 1996 recruit to deputy chief in roles including patrol sergeant, academy trainer, division commander, recruitment commander, and Internal Affairs commander. She also served with distinction in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996 to 2005, completing combat tours in Kosovo and Iraq and earning the Army Commendation Medal. Her education includes a BA in political science from UNC Charlotte, an MS in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma, graduation from the FBI National Academy, and attendance at the Senior Management Institute for Police.

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​From 2021 to 2025, Chief Patterson led the Raleigh Police Department as its chief, introducing innovations like the Civilian Crash Investigations unit, the Raleigh Police Department Foundation (raising millions for morale and projects), and transforming the intelligence center into a Real-Time Crime Center. She achieved notable successes such as a 100% homicide clearance rate in 2024, significant violent crime reductions, improved recruitment to cut vacancies, and stronger community trust through initiatives like Coffee with a Cop.