Accelerate your career in a community of opportunity.
Inside Recruitment: Transparency Matters
As part of CMPD's application process, potential candidates are given the opportunity to disclose any charges or violations on their records. While this may seem like a "gotcha" question, the answer is an important hallmark of honesty and integrity - two qualities every CMPD officer must prove to have before protecting and serving the people of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
We’re not looking for perfect people. We’re looking for truthfulness and responsibility.
- Officer Bruce Edwards
Officer Richard Gladden's Story
Born and raised in Charlotte, Richard Gladden was a good kid. A natural athlete who made As and Bs, he knew how to stay out of trouble even before he attended the middle school where his father worked as a custodian.

“He kept a good eye on me,” says Gladden, who has been a CMPD police officer for three years.
While he was never a troublemaker, like any preteen, he tried to fit it. “My goal was never to do anything bad, but I hung around with kids who did.”

One day, Gladden was in a school restroom when one of his friends knocked a fire extinguisher off the wall, releasing its contents. His friends were charged with destruction of property, but Gladden only received a suspension, or so he thought.

Seven years later, Gladden was a junior in college when he and a friend decided to apply to CMPD. When completing the application, he confidently answered “no” to questions about prior arrests. Gladden’s friend advanced to the Academy, but he did not.
Meet the Women of CMPD
Detective Jessica Hall has worked in the Crimes Against Children Unit, which responded to 900 cases in 2019. She was also the subject of the eye opening Dec. 1 CMPD Vidcast. She talks about her difficult work, how her work has changed her own journey as a mother, and how she cares for her own mental health.
Nobody other than me and the DA's office and all of our partners in the community are going to be the voice for these kids. We're their voice.

- Det. Jessica Hall
Join the Women Who Get the Job Done - charlottepolicejobs.org
186th Recruitment Class
CMPD's Recruitment Class 186 has worked hard, both in the Academy and the community-at-large, to be prepared for patrol. As part of their training, they volunteered with Heal Charlotte and paired up with community members to engage in conversation about police and community relations. Watch these cadets become officers in the Dec. 11, 2020, commencement ceremony featured below.
Congratulations To These New Officers!
CMPD is now accepting applications.
for those new to law enforcement
for those who are
sworn officers
a new CMPD pathway
for those who are BLET-certified
Police Telecommunicator
For many, police telecommunicators are the voice of CMPD. There when needed most, they answer calls from the public reporting crimes, disturbances, fires and medical or police emergencies.

Learn more about CMPD's compensation and benefits.
Charlotte: A Great Place To Live and "Retire"
Charlotte is among the top 25 places in the United States for both setting down roots and for spending one's retirement years, according to the most recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The "Queen City" moved to No. 6 on U.S. News' "Best Places to Live" list, up 14 spots from No. 20 in 2019, largely due to its scores in desirability and housing affordability.

For the "Best Places to Retire" ranking, Charlotte lands at No. 23, and is often a popular retirement option for folks from the northeast looking for warmer climates and lower cost of living. Not surprisingly, CMPD is a very popular second career choice for officers, like Lateral Entry Officer Robert Chomicki, who have retired from their initial service.

If you are currently a sworn officer looking for a great place to "retire," learn more about Charlotte and investigate CMPD's option for lateral entry.
Thank you for your interest in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Connect with us.