Charlotte settled ex-battalion chief’s lawsuit before naming his wife police chief

In a significant development, Charlotte's fire department settles a long-standing racial discrimination lawsuit, ending a dispute that had stalled negotiations since 2018. Lance Patterson, a former battalion chief, and Sylivia Smith-Phifer, a captain, accused the department of racial bias in promotions. The city and Patterson reached an agreement just days before a possible trial, with Patterson's wife, Estella, being named the next chief of police. The lawsuit, along with others, has highlighted diversity issues within city agencies, as Charlotte's demographics shift and calls for equity grow louder. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.