Six Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers could be fired after investigators uncovered racist text messages, raising questions about public trust and whether cases handled by the officers should be reviewed. The messages were found during a State Bureau of Investigation inquiry into former CMPD Officer Seth Elliott, who was arrested in July on allegations that he misused information from Flock surveillance cameras, according to information reported Tuesday, Oct. 13. The officers have not been charged, and their names have not been made public. The texts allegedly included a racial slur and compared the officers to a Ku Klux Klan gathering. The six officers are of different races, including Black officers. One had served as president of a police recruit class; another received an employee-of-the-month award earlier this year. Robert Dawkins, an activist with Action NC, said the alleged conduct raises concerns beyond individual officers. When multiple officers are involved, he said, residents may see a broader problem within the department. Dawkins added that Black residents could have reason to worry. Dawkins and City Councilman Malcolm Graham said they retain confidence in Police Chief Estella Patterson. Graham described Patterson as committed to holding officers to high standards, while noting that several recent incidents have tested confidence in the department, which has about 1,800 sworn officers. Dawkins called for more officer training. The two also discussed an allegation that the officers competed to see who could stop the most Black people. That claim has not been confirmed. The allegations may lead to a review of traffic stops and arrests involving the officers, though no review has been announced. CMPD said it does not tolerate conduct that conflicts with its values and emphasized accountability, transparency and ethical standards. The city’s Civil Service Board is expected to hear evidence and make the final decision on whether the officers will be fired.