Chief Estella Patterson is retiring from the Raleigh Police Department after being in the position for three years, the department announced Thursday. 

What You Need To Know

  • Chief Estella Patterson said she will retire from the Raleigh Police Department on March 1, 2025

  • Patterson became Raleigh's 30th police chief in August of 2021

  • Patterson served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for 25 years before going to Raleigh

  • The City of Raleigh is searching for the police department's next leader

Patterson, with more than 30 years in public service, became Raleigh's 30th police chief in August of 2021. Patterson will retire March 1, 2025.

Patterson served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for 25 years before going to Raleigh, and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005.

“It has been my honor to lead such a dedicated and talented team of men and women, and to engage with a community that welcomed me and worked side by side with RPD to address crime and quality of life concerns,” Patterson said.“It has been my honor to lead such a dedicated and talented team of men and women, and to engage with a community that welcomed me and worked side by side with RPD to address crime and quality of life concerns,” Patterson said. “My goal has always been to reduce violence and to establish Raleigh as a leader in public safety best practices. We have accomplished this, and I believe we have a strong foundation for future successes.”

During her leadership, Raleigh was selected as a Public Safety Partnership City, a national designation, which brings a wealth of resources and technical assistance for crime prevention, city officials said. Raleigh officials said because of this and other efforts, 100% of homicide cases year-to-date have been solved.

“During her tenure, Chief Patterson worked diligently to reduce violent crime, address staffing vacancies, advance technology as a force multiplier in crime management, and build meaningful partnerships on the local, state and federal levels,” Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David said. “These efforts have made our city safer and the Raleigh Police Department more resilient and community focused.”  

As police chief, Patterson worked with other North Carolina police chiefs to introduce legislation for civilian crash investigators, and implemented the Greenway Unit and leveraging technology to develop the Raleigh Intelligence Center into a Real Time Crime Center, among other accomplishments.

The City of Raleigh is searching for the police department's next leader.