Estella D. Patterson was sworn-in as the Chief of Police for the Raleigh Police Department in August 2021, embarking on a journey of law enforcement leadership and service in the state’s Capital city. Before joining the Raleigh Police Department, Chief Patterson served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department from 1996-2021 in numerous capacities including patrol officer, instructor, sergeant, division commander, recruitment director and Internal Affairs commander. She achieved the rank of Deputy Chief in April 2019.
Aside from serving her community as a public safety professional, Chief Patterson served her country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996-2005. Her service included combat tours to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian and to Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. She is an honored two-time recipient of the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
Chief Patterson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and attended the 56th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police. As a law enforcement professional and dedicated public servant, Chief Patterson’s passions lie in building collaborative partnerships in the community, working with youth, and serving those in need.