Sheriff’s Message – Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Welcome Message

Mecklenburg County is the largest and most populous county in the state of North Carolina and home to the nation’s seventeenth largest metropolitan city of Charlotte. Mecklenburg County encompasses 546 square miles and has six townships.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is the largest Sheriff’s Office in both North and South Carolina with close to 1100 employees. The Mecklenburg County Detention Center network is also the largest municipal detention system in the state of North Carolina.

The women and men of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office are dedicated professionals committed to providing our citizens with the highest degree of service. I am honored to lead this organization into a new era where we are nationally recognized and serve as a model of how a Sheriff’s Office serves its community.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Garry L. McFadden
45th Sheriff of Mecklenburg County

Sheriff’s Biography

Sheriff Garry L. McFadden was elected as the 45th Sheriff of Mecklenburg County and was sworn into office on December 4, 2018. Before his election, Garry had a distinguished 36-year law enforcement career with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), serving over 20 years as a legendary homicide detective.

Originally from Sumter, South Carolina, Garry considers Elliott, SC, home. He attended Mt. Pleasant High School and came to Charlotte in 1977 to attend Johnson C. Smith University, where he is a proud alumnus.

Throughout his career, Garry has been an advocate for change, committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers between law enforcement and the communities they serve. He has received numerous awards for his community service, including recognition from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, NAACP, NBA Legends, and others. Notably, he was named Charlotte’s Citizen of the Year in 2015 and recognized by President Barack Obama for his work on the 21st Century Policing Initiative and the “Cops and Barbers” program.

His unconventional methods and deep community ties helped him solve hundreds of murders, achieving one of the highest solve rates in CMPD history. This success led to his starring role in the television series “I Am Homicide,” which highlighted his major cases, and his ongoing appearance in “Homicide City” on the Investigation Discovery (ID) network. His contributions have been featured on national platforms like America’s Most Wanted, The First 48, The Justice Files, and People magazine.

He retired from CMPD on July 31, 2011, but was immediately re-hired to work in the Office of the Chief, focusing on community relations. After finally retiring from CMPD, he continued to make significant contributions to law enforcement and community engagement, leading to his election as Mecklenburg County Sheriff in 2018 and re-election in 2022.

Sheriff McFadden serves on several state and national law enforcement boards and committees, including the National Sheriff Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, North Carolina Sheriff Association, American Correctional Association, North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Committee, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Faith-Based Security Advisory Council.

Garry is a husband, father, and a proud grandfather. Married to Cathy G. McFadden for 33 years, they have three adult children, two grandsons, and another grandson on the way. Sheriff Garry L. McFadden is now in his 42nd year in law enforcement, continually committed to influencing change and being “the difference.”

Accomplishments

Since taking office in December of 2018, Sheriff McFadden has been busy and implemented several key initiatives to progressively move the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office into a new direction aimed towards building law enforcement and community relationships, restoring the humanity in the midst of confinement and criminal justice reform. Highlighted are some of Sheriff McFadden’s accomplishments in his tenure as Sheriff, with more to come:

– Ending Participation in the 287(g) Program:

This helped bridge the gap between law enforcement and Charlotte’s growing immigrant population.

– Career Fair for Detention Center Residents:

Aimed at reducing recidivism by providing employment opportunities for offenders.

– Family Contact Visitation Area:

Helps reduce the emotional and mental stress of confinement by maintaining personal interactions.

– Reinstituted Face-to-Face Visitation:

Ensures the welfare of residents through personal interactions with friends and family.

– Ending Solitary Confinement for Youthful Offenders:

Focuses on education and development rather than punitive measures.

– Community Engagement Team:

Provides outreach, educational opportunities, and support to the community.

– Camp Cradle:

An outdoor summer recreation program for youthful offenders.

-Barber School and Accelerated Culinary School:

Provide residents with marketable skills for employment post-custody.

– You Can Vote Initiative:

Educates and assists pre-trial detainees and residents with voter registration.

– LBGTQIA Committee:

Promotes education and awareness around LGBTQIA issues.

– Dignitary Protection Unit:

Specialized training for the protection of dignitaries visiting Charlotte.

– Courthouse Active Shooter Exercise:

A realistic training exercise to manage active shooter emergencies.

– Digital Literacy Program:

Teaches residents digital skills and provides a computer upon program completion.

– Behavioral Health Unit:

Offers cognitive therapy and mental health services for detainees suffering from mental health issues.

Sheriff's Welcome Message

Sheriff’s Biography

Accomplishments

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