CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than half a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers have either resigned or been recommended for termination after racist messages in a group text surfaced during a separate investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The messages reportedly included officers competing over who could stop the most Black drivers, as well as racist remarks about Black residents in discussions of force and gunfire. The messages were found in data taken from Officer Seth Elliott’s phone during a North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation inquiry into his alleged misuse of the Flock Safety camera network and other technology. The state investigation’s data was turned over to CMPD. The department then began its own internal inquiry into the officers’ messages, according to the sources. Last week, officers involved in the text thread appeared before an internal affairs chain-of-command review board. The board recommended multiple officers for termination, though some officers reportedly quit. The officers worked in several CMPD divisions, including North Tryon, Freedom and University City, where Elliott was assigned. They may appeal the recommendations to the Citizens Review Board. Chief Estella Patterson will make the final decisions on whether they are fired. Elliott faces a criminal charge related to alleged misuse of Flock Safety data. His attorney, George Laughrun, said Elliott had resigned from CMPD more than a month earlier and declined to comment on the text messages, saying the defense was preparing for the criminal case. Elliott did not respond to a request for comment. CMPD did not confirm or deny the reported details. In a statement, the department said it would not tolerate conduct that conflicts with its values or undermines community trust, and emphasized its commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency. The allegations raise questions about how officers’ attitudes toward Black residents may affect public safety and confidence in policing. The department has not publicly identified the officers involved, and their names have not been independently confirmed.