CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden apologized on Thursday after a recording of him using racially charged language surfaced this month.
McFadden sent a video with his apology on Thursday. Channel 9 reported when a MCSO chief deputy resigned and accused McFadden of using racial slurs.
The sheriff has come under fire since recordings were made public in which he appears to be heard using racially charged language putting down his staff. Channel 9 got a copy of the recording.
“I know I can’t trust that captain,” McFadden appeared to have said in the audio recording. “That white (racial slur) captain is better than the seven other captains upstairs.”
On Thursday, McFadden acknowledged the recording, and said it didn’t matter who recorded it or when it was recorded.
“Today, I want to apologize for that language,” McFadden said. “Held to a higher standard, that’s the office of the sheriff, but you must understand I am a human, and I am not perfect, and I will make mistakes.”
After Channel 9′s first report, more employees came forward to share their experiences.
McFadden said others can speak freely and openly, but he is “bound by law” and “not allowed to speak openly and freely” about the language.
McFadden said in his apology video, “I want you to be patient with me because I still have to run one of the largest sheriff’s offices/detention centers in North Carolina. So be patient but understand this, I am committed to the work of the office of the sheriff.”
The North Carolina Sheriffs Association blasted McFadden last week, and McFadden appeared in Raleigh for a meeting with the Executive Committee on Thursday. Channel 9′s Glenn Counts was there and asked McFadden about the staff turnover and any concerns that it’s affecting his department’s reputation.
“Are you concerned that may be giving the impression that your department is in chaos?” Counts asked.
“No it’s not, it don’t give that impression. I think if someone sits down and not soundbite it, sit down and have a conversation with us about all the things, I think they will find out a lot about the agency, but please don’t have that impression,” McFadden said.
The association doesn’t have any kind of supervisory role over McFadden’s office, so they can’t fire him. Ultimately, that would be up to voters.
The NC Sheriffs’ Association issued the following statement after meeting with McFadden: “The Executive Committee of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association met on November 14th with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden to discuss racially charged comments recently reported in the media that were attributed to Sheriff McFadden. In that meeting the Executive Committee expressed their displeasure with those comments and made it clear that those comments do not represent the views of the sheriffs of North Carolina nor of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. Sheriff McFadden, both in the meeting and publicly, has apologized for those comments and the Executive Committee on behalf of the Association acknowledges his apology.”
(Video shows motorcycle rider shouting racial slurs at driver in Gastonia)
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