McFadden, who spent nearly 40 years with CMPD before becoming sheriff, said he was bothered by the messages but not shocked. He recalled seeing racist graffiti in a police station bathroom during his early years on the force in the 1980s, and said officers then could fear retaliation if they challenged colleagues.

“People are speaking up now,” McFadden said, while stressing that he remains disturbed that such conduct continues.

He said other law enforcement agencies have contacted him to ask what is happening inside CMPD. The department was where he began his career, he said, and he is concerned about the damage the allegations could do to public perceptions of both CMPD and the Sheriff’s Office.

Asked how he addresses conduct among his own deputies, McFadden said his office regularly discusses how officers treat people and the responsibility that comes with wearing a badge. He said the department can still improve.

McFadden believes CMPD can recover to some extent, but questioned whether law enforcement can regain public trust without confronting deeper problems. Disciplining or charging the officers involved, he said, would not by itself resolve racism. He called for candid conversations with the community as part of rebuilding trust.