Video here.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and other officials from Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte testified before the House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform on February 9. The planned topic was public safety, with concerns about immigration enforcement, mental health, public transit, and funding priorities

McFadden called himself the “elephant in the room” and lived up to that with long answers that bordered on lecturing committee members. The morning session with him and District Attorney Spencer Merriweather ran more than three hours, with most of that time dedicated to combative exchanges with the sheriff.

In contrast, the afternoon session with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson, Mayor Vi Lyles, and City Manager Marcus Jones lasted just 80 combat-free minutes.

McFadden often said he could not answer questions due to ongoing litigation and an SBI investigation. Frustrated, Chairman Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) called a recess for McFadden to confer with his attorneys about what he could say.

Other than an impromptu civics lesson from Rep. Allen Chesser (R-Nash) that has gained national attention, members asked about safety in the county jail, work culture in the sheriff’s office, and detaining inmates for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

McFadden said he still thinks Iryna’s Law is “a mistake” and that it has done “no good,” told the committee he was speaking specifically about Mecklenburg County. DA Merriweather called the legislation a “good thing.”

Asked why ICE picked up just 16% of Mecklenburg County inmates with a detainer in 2025 but picked up 65% of Wake County inmates, McFadden instead complained that state legislators did not seek his expertise before writing or passing the relevant laws.

Co-Chair Jake Johnson (R-Polk) explained to McFadden that being the only sheriff called to testify to the Committee “is not a point of pride.” Johnson added, “There are clearly problems within the department that we’re going to have to address going forward.”

CMPD Chief Patterson described her plan to improve policing in Charlotte, including youth and mental health efforts. Rep. Brian Echevarria (R-Cabarrus) asked how the city could spend $100 million on diversity but not direct any of that to safety when 60% of violent crime victims are black.

Jones told Charlotte officials he wanted them to make national headlines for positive things, not for the not the things that have dominated the news cycle in recent months.

“I want Charlotte making national news for the World Military Games [next summer],” Rep. Jones concluded. “I want that city to be the shining gem of North Carolina that I know it can be.”

House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform Co-Chairs Jake Johnson (R-Polk), Harry Warren (R-Rowan), and Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) sent letters to officials from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County requesting documents, communication, and data concerning crime and public safety.

The letters, sent to Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, Mecklenburg County Manager Mike Bryant, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, and Charlotte Area Transit System Interim CEO Brent Cagle, can be found on the committee’s website.