It’s the first time a vote of no confidence was introduced and passed, officials said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police will begin accepting ballots next week in the vote of no confidence against CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings.
In an email sent to members on Wednesday, the Char-Meck FOP says in-person voting and online voting will begin Monday, May 26. The organization represents more than 1,700 CMPD officers. Voting will run from May 26 until the adjournment of the FOP’s regularly scheduled meeting on June 3.
The measure comes after reports of a settlement between Jennings and Charlotte City Council stemming from a public war of words with former City Council member Tariq Bokhari. The feud was over Jennings’ initial refusal to let patrol officers wear outer carrier vests in the wake of last April’s deadly police ambush.
The FOP announced last Saturday that it was moving forward to hold an official no-confidence vote against Jennings. In an email to members surveying their thoughts on the matter, the FOP said this was the first time a vote of no confidence was introduced and passed. A CMPD spokesperson told WCNC Charlotte that the department had “no comment” on the proceedings.
In the aftermath of the April 29, 2024, ambush shooting that left four officers, including a CMPD officer, dead, the FOP and CMPD have often been at odds. First, the organization took issue with the chief’s stance on outer carrier vests. Then, the organization criticized the department’s lack of transparency in WCNC Charlotte’s reporting about a small number of officers who logged off the system and were unavailable to respond to what would become the deadliest law enforcement shooting in Charlotte’s history.
The FOP, in a subsequent interview with WCNC Charlotte, said the department’s dismissive response prompted the organization to take a public stand against the handling of the situation. The recent settlement has again raised the FOP’s ire.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
