The officers, staff and volunteers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department take very seriously their duty to provide citizens with professional, innovative and effective service. Community safety is a shared responsibility and we are committed to working in partnership with neighborhood residents and business owners as well as other local, state and federal agencies to reduce crime and increase safety.
Johnny Jennings was sworn in as Chief of Police of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on July 1, 2020. He has over 30 years of dedicated public service to the City of Charlotte and a strong track record of being a forward thinking, innovative leader within the organization.
Jennings joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a member of the 108th Recruit Class in May of 1992.
Upon graduation from the academy, Jennings was assigned to Field Services as a Patrol Officer. In 1997, Jennings joined the Homicide Division as a detective. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and supervised the Criminal Intelligence Division and later North Tryon Patrol Division.
Following his promotion to Captain in 2006, he commanded the Street Crimes Division, Field Services Patrol for North Tryon Division and Special Assignment for the Democratic National Convention Intelligence Unit. Jennings was promoted to Major in 2012 and spent time over the Criminal Investigations Bureau, Real Time Crime Center, Support Service Bureau, and Internal Affairs.
In 2016, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and oversaw the Patrol Services Group, Administrative Services Group, and Support Services Group prior to being selected as Chief.
Upon his swearing in as Chief, Jennings provided key leadership in the CMPD’s response to the 2020 civil unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jennings has played a crucial role in planning and operations for major events in the City of Charlotte throughout his career including Rev. Billy Graham’s Funeral in 2018, the NBA All-Star Game in 2019, the Democratic National Convention in 2012 and the Republican National Convention in 2020.
Jennings continues to lead innovation and strategy as a law enforcement executive. He developed the CMPD Serves program, a customer experience initiative, making CMPD the first law enforcement agency in the country to develop and implement a strategic approach as well as a curriculum around ways to improve internal and external engagement.
He successfully implemented his
CORE4 strategic direction --- Crime Management, Employee Wellness, Professional Accountability and Community Collaboration --- to expand collaborative relationships within the CMPD and community, increase public safety and enhance trust, fairness and respect in the community.
He has prioritized the decrease of violent crime in the City of Charlotte and remains dedicated to the recruitment of both sworn officers and non-sworn staff to build the CMPD team.
Jennings has 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.
A native of Jefferson City, Tennessee, Jennings earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State University where he played football as a linebacker from 1986-1990, earning all-American accolades. In 2010, Jennings was inducted into the Appalachian State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He holds a master’s degree from Pfeiffer University in Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, and a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute.