Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jenning has announced that he intends to retire at the end of 2025. Chief Jenning has served with North Carolina’s largest law enforcement agency for 33 years.

Chief Jennings joined the CMPD in 1992. He was sworn in as chief in 2020.

"Serving as the Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has truly been the greatest honor of my career," Jennings said in a statement . "I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together – the significant reductions in crime, the strengthening of community trust, and the unwavering dedication I've witnessed from every member of this department. After over 33 years of service, I have decided it is time for me to pass the torch at the end of this year. Although I had intended to retire sooner, I felt compelled to guide our agency through some of its most challenging periods. I make this announcement with immense gratitude for the opportunity to serve this remarkable city and with full confidence in the men and women of the CMPD to continue protecting and serving our community with excellence."

Chief Jennings' tenure began during a period marked by a national surge in violent crime, reflected in Charlotte with a 16% increase in violent crime in 2020. Confronting this challenge directly, the department focused on strategic responses that yielded tangible results. The department achieved notable violent crime reductions: down 7% in 2021 and a further 5% decrease in 2022. While violent crime levels remained flat in 2023 amidst increases in other crime categories, focused efforts continued. These strategies contributed to a 3% decrease in overall crime in 2024, including significant reductions in property crime. While one metric showed a slight increase (+3%) in violent crime victims in 2024, violent crime incidents were down 1%, underscoring the department's ongoing impact on violent activity.

A consistent and impactful accomplishment throughout Chief Jennings' tenure has been the removal of illegal firearms from Charlotte’s streets. This critical effort saw increases every year: up 9% in 2020, up 33% in 2021, up 8% in 2022, up 10% in 2023, and up 5% in 2024, the department says.

The department consistently increased its operational output under Chief Jennings' leadership. Police interactions rose 4% in 2021, followed by further increases of 1% in 2023 and 2% in 2024. Suspect arrests rose 7% in 2022, 12% in 2023 and 5% in 2024.

For 2025 (as of May 18), there has been a 7% decrease in overall crime year over year, a 4% reduction in property crime and a 24% decrease in violent crime. Additionally, there have been increases in guns removed (+14%), police interactions (+3%) and arrests (+12%).

Other significant achievements during his tenure include:

• Revolutionizing Community Engagement and Accountability: Under Chief Jennings' visionary leadership, CMPD launched the groundbreaking "CMPD Serves" program in 2021, pioneering the nation's first formalized customer service curriculum for law enforcement. This strategic approach to improving audience engagement has yielded remarkable results with a recent community survey indicating that 75% of respondents reported a positive impression after interacting with CMPD employees. This program has been well-received internally with over 80% of officers finding the training understandable and well-organized, and over 40% reporting improved interactions with the community. Critically, these initiatives have contributed to a 24% decrease in Use of Force incidents (occurring in less than 1% of police interactions), a 61% reduction in external complaints, a 39% decrease in internal complaints and a 43% decline in officer-involved shootings. This sustained commitment to professionalism, de-escalation and community-centric policing has also been reinforced internally through over 400 "Acts of Excellence" awards personally designated by Chief Jennings to sworn and civilian employees.

• Championing Key Legislation: Chief Jennings was instrumental in co-writing and championing the passage of HB 813, the Pre-trial Integrity Act, which went into effect in October 2023. This significant legislation focused on enhancing pretrial release conditions for certain adult defendants charged with serious violent crimes and included modifications for juvenile secure custody hearings, reflecting his commitment to systemic improvements in the justice system.

• Addressing Recruitment Challenges: The chief actively addressed nationwide recruitment challenges plaguing law enforcement. Through targeted strategies, the department achieved significant increases in interest and hires with a 31% rise in applications and a 26% increase in hires in 2023, followed by an 18% increase in applications and a 30% rise in hires in 2024.

• Prioritizing Employee Wellness: Chief Jennings expanded crucial employee wellness initiatives, including the development of the Office of Employee Wellness and enhanced mental health support, demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of the department's personnel.

Throughout his career, Chief Jennings held numerous leadership roles from homicide detective to deputy chief and contributed to the operational planning for major city events like the Democratic National Convention (2012) and the NBA All-Star Game (2019).

He is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where he earned All-American honors as a football player and was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame and Hall of Legends, holds an MBA from Pfeiffer University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute and the Senior Management Institute for Police. Chief Jennings serves as a board member of the Major City Chiefs Association as well as the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). He served as the President of the North Carolina Police Executives Association and as the Vice President of the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives Greater Charlotte Chapter. Chief Jennings is a graduate of recruit class 108. 

City leadership expressed gratitude for Chief Jennings' service and his planned leadership through the end of the year.

"Chief Jennings has been a transformative leader for CMPD and a true champion for Charlotte,” said City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “His dedication to public safety and his innovative approaches to policing have made our city safer and stronger. We are immensely grateful for his 33 years of service and his commitment to leading the department through the end of the year. We wish him all the best as he prepares for his retirement."

The city manager will soon lead a comprehensive national search ensuring a thorough process to find the most qualified candidate to serve as the next chief of police.

"Chief Jennings has served the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community with unwavering dedication and integrity for many years, and his leadership as chief of police has been instrumental in advancing public safety and fostering stronger community relationships,” said City of Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones. “We are incredibly grateful for his profound contributions and wish him a well-deserved, fulfilling retirement. As we begin the search for our next chief, we are committed to finding a leader who will continue to build upon Chief Jennings' legacy and uphold our city's commitment to safety and justice for all."