Latest news with #JohnnyJennings
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Charlotte leaders plan national search for CMPD Chief Jennings' successor
Now that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings has shared his plans to retire by 2026, city leaders will begin a nation-wide search for his successor, a city announcement said. Jennings, who joined the department in 1992 and was promoted to chief in 2020, went public with his decision Sunday — the same day he released details of the $305,000 closed-session settlement he made with the city earlier in May. The deal reportedly stopped a lawsuit over comments made by former City Council member Tariq Bokhari, who pushed Jennings to get new bulletproof vests for police officers, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. After Jennings announced his retirement plans, two of the city's top leaders thanked him for his commitment to the city. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles praised Jennings as a 'transformative leader for CMPD and a true champion for Charlotte,' her statement read. 'His dedication to public safety and his innovative approaches to policing have made our city safer and stronger,' Lyles said. 'We are immensely grateful for his 33 years of service and his commitment to leading the department through the end of the year.' Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones also thanked Jennings. He said Jennings' leadership has been 'instrumental in advancing public safety.' '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,' said Jones in a statement. Jennings' separation agreement awards the chief the following: ▪ $14,016.70 in retroactive pay ▪ $45,698.56 retention bonus ▪ $45,284.70 for 40 days of vacation ▪ $175,000 in severance pay ▪ 25,000 'for costs incurred related to the Dispute.' Jennings annual salary was about $280,300. Last week, State Auditor Dave Boliek said his office planned to investigate the city's settlement with Jennings. At the time, city officials refused to share details of the agreement, saying details of the agreement were not public record. 'Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter,' wrote Boliek in a letter to Lyles. Details of the separation agreement were first reported by The Charlotte Optimist and The Assembly.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CMPD Chief Jennings faces both praise and criticism after details of his $305K settlement released
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte's top cop will retire at the end of the year. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings announced his decision Sunday and released the details of his $300,000 settlement he reached with the city council earlier this month. It was a settlement the council would not comment on because it was agreed to in a closed session. Interim City Attorney Anthony Fox explained the council's position during a press conference after reports of the settlement began circulating in local media. Jennings had reportedly threatened to sue over threatening texts sent by former city council member Tariq Bokhari. The two were arguing over whether officers should wear outer protective vests. 'We're not going to confirm or deny, the law provides for certain confidentiality of closed sessions as well as personnel privacy matters and we're going to respect the law,' said Fox. Jennings released the settlement in full this week and said there were too many assumptions about what had been agreed to. In total, the city agreed to pay Jennings $305,000. That amount includes a pay increase of $14,016,70, a retention bonus worth $45,698.56, 40 additional days of vacation valued at $45,284.70, $175,000 in severance, and $25,000 for legal fees. Jennings had faced both praise and criticism in the weeks following the initial reporting of the settlement and Charlotte's Fraternal Order of Police is still moving forward with a vote of no confidence. But former CMPD leaders, like Assistant Chief of Police Vicki Foster, a 28-year veteran of the department, told Queen City News his successor will have big shoes to fill. 'They have to be able to not only just engage but be a part of what is going on and understanding,' said Foster. The state auditor's office, which opened an investigation after the city refused to release details on the settlement, praised the move by Jennings but has yet to conclude their investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Charlotte City Council member to be sworn into office Tuesday after Bokhari resignation
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The newest member of Charlotte City Council is slated to take his oath of office Tuesday. Council members selected Edwin Peacock III to fill the District 6 seat left open by last month's resignation of Tariq Bokhari. Peacock, a Republican, previously served two terms on the council and twice ran for mayor. He will take his oath at the council's 5 p.m. business meeting. It also will be the first meeting since two major legal matters have come about with council members. Police Chief Johnny Jennings' settlement details were revealed Sunday night when he announced his retirement, and Councilwoman Tiawana Brown pled not guilty Friday to COVID fund fraud charges. Peacock's abbreviated term will end in December, and he says he will not run for reelection in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
CMPD chief to retire
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings will retire, effective Jan. 1, 2026, Jennings announced Sunday night. Why it matters: The announcement follows Charlotte City Council's agreement in closed session earlier this month on a six-figure settlement with Jennings in order to avoid a potential lawsuit over comments made by former council member Tariq Bokhari. The latest: Jennings' settlement with the city is $305,000, the Charlotte Optimist reported Sunday. It's also being referred to as a " separation agreement" and includes: $175,000 in severance that he'll receive in January. $45,699 will be split between two payments for Jennings to stay until the end of the year. $25,000 to cover the costs of the ordeal, such as legal counsel. $14,017 for a 5% merit increase, which is retroactive to the start of the year. 40 additional vacation days, valued at $45,284. Jennings may use these days or be paid for them when he leaves next year. Catch up quick: Bokhari told Jennings he would call for his resignation and work to "cripple" his legacy if he did not agree to let officers wear outer-carrier vests, according to texts published by WFAE. Jennings had restricted officers from wearing the vests because they didn't align with his department's "community-oriented policing philosophies," according to the Charlotte Optimist. The vests offer extra protection from gunfire, WFAE reported, but can make officers appear intimidating. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police was expected to begin accepting ballots for a vote of no confidence on Monday, May 26, WCNC reported. Zoom out: Republican state auditor Dave Boliek is investigating the City of Charlotte for "the $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars [that] may have been given" to Jennings to avoid a potential lawsuit, Axios' Alexandria Sands reported. "Our goal with launching this investigation was simple: bring transparency to the City of Charlotte. The people of Charlotte, along with all North Carolinians, deserve to know where their tax dollars are going," Boliek said in a statement Sunday night. What's next: Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones will lead a national search for CMPD's next chief. Flashback: Jennings has served as chief since July 1, 2020. He joined CMPD in May 1992 as a member of their 108th recruit class. He didn't have to take the job, Jennings told the Charlotte Optimist. The now 57-year-old Jennings was eligible to retire five years ago. "Most athletes would love to retire with the same team that they came in on, and that's difficult to do," Jennings, who played college football at Appalachian State, told the Charlotte Optimist's Michael Graff. "So, you know, there are very few of us [who] get an opportunity to be a chief in your originating department, and it was hard to pass that up."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Char-Meck FOP to move forward with no confidence vote against CMPD Chief Jennings
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — After holding a preliminary vote amongst its over 2000 members, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has decided to move forward with a formal vote of no confidence against CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings. On May 8, an email was sent to FOP members, notifying them of a motion passed to hold a vote of no confidence against Jennings after a fallout ensued between Jennings and former Charlotte council member Tariq Bokhari. Reports say the city paid Jennings a six-figure settlement months after Bokhari allegedly threatened to 'ruin his career.' The FOP responded to the deal, calling it a misuse of public funds, and announced plans to hold a vote of no confidence against Jennings. Members were able to vote on if they wanted to move forward with the vote. That voting period ended Wednesday, May 14. The survey yielded over 800 responses with more than 70 percent of the respondents voting in favor of a formal vote against Chief Jennings. The group is working on finalizing the best way to hold the vote, to ensure that each of the members will get a chance to cast their vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
