Biography of Garry L. McFadden

Sheriff Garry L. McFadden, a thirty-seven-year veteran of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (“CMPD”), is widely recognized for his exceptional contributions to law enforcement. Throughout his illustrious career, he dedicated thirty years to the detective unit and subsequently twenty-two years to the homicide unit.
 
After retiring from the CMPD on July 31, 2011, Sheriff McFadden was promptly rehired by the City of Charlotte and assigned to the Office of the Chief to the Community Relations Unit and The Dignitary Protection Unit he co-founded. His role was instrumental in implementing community-building initiatives that fostered trust and engagement.
 
In 2014 while still employed by the CMPD, he collaborated with three local barbers to establish the Cops & Barbers initiative. This community-oriented project garnered significant attention, attracting the attention of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Consequently, President Obama extended an invitation to the group to visit the White House. President Obama recognized the significance of this vision as one of the top ten initiatives in fostering meaningful relationships within communities.
 
In 2015, Sheriff McFadden was honored with the prestigious title of Charlotte’s Citizen of the Year by the Mayor’s Office.
 
Throughout his tenure as a detective with the CMPD, Sheriff McFadden has garnered recognition through appearances on various national television programs, including American Most Wanted, The First 48, The Justice Files, and People magazine. Notably, he was also featured on 20/20. 
 
On June 14, 2016, the Investigative Discovery channel (ID) presented “I Am Homicide,” a docuseries that highlighted several of Sheriff McFadden’s most intricate homicide cases as a homicide detective with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, where he served for over two decades. The debut of this nationally and internationally televised show made Sheriff McFadden the first African American law enforcement officer to have his own television program. After completing three seasons, his contract terminated. However, in 2023, ID re-signed him to another series titled “Good Cop – Bad Cop.”
 
On May 8, 2018, the voters of Mecklenburg County in North Carolina elected Sheriff McFadden as their next sheriff, making him the first African American sheriff in the county’s history. On December 4, 2018, Sheriff Garry McFadden assumed the position of 45th sheriff of Mecklenburg County and was re-elected on May 17, 2022, for a second term.
 
In 2020, he was once again honored by his esteemed fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., as Citizen of the Year.
 
In 2021, he was inducted into North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) A Living Legend of Johnson C. Smith University.
 
In 2024, President Biden bestowed upon Sheriff McFadden the Lifetime Achievement Award in Community Service and the Presidential Award for Volunteering.
 
Since assuming the role of sheriff, McFadden has been appointed to serve on various state, national boards, and committees pertaining to law enforcement.

Garry’s unconventional methods and deep ties to the community helped him to solve hundreds of murders over the course of his illustrious career. As a detective, Garry had one of the highest solve rates in police department history which led to him starring in his own television series, “I Am Homicide.” The series highlights some of Garry’s biggest cases and how the perpetrators were caught. Sheriff McFadden can still be seen on television in the series “Homicide City” on the Investigation Discovery (ID) network. 

Sheriff McFadden is originally from Sumter, South Carolina but affectionally calls Elliott S.C. home – also home to his beloved high school Mt Pleasant High “Striking Rattlers” and came to Charlotte in 1977 to attend Johnson C. Smith University of which he is a proud alumnus. Since the start of his career Garry has been an advocate for change and committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers between law enforcement and the communities they serve. 

Garry’s record of community service is well documented, and he has received numerous awards for his long standing and continuous work in Mecklenburg County communities with various organizations such as, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, NAACP, NBA Legends, MoMo – Mother of Murdered Offspring, Cops & Barbers, Beauty After The Bars, Charlotte Black Mental Health, The Sons of The American Revolution; along being honored as Charlotte’s Citizen of The Year 2015 just to name a few. In 2015, Garry was recognized by President Barack Obama for his work on the 21st Century Policing Initiative and his involvement in the development of an outstanding community program titled “Cops and Barbers.” 

Garry is a husband, father of three adult children and a proud grandfather. Sheriff McFadden is approaching his fortieth year in law enforcement and is still committed to influencing change by being “the difference.” 

National Black Sheriff Association
  • A Founding Member 
  • The First National President 
 
National Sheriff Association
  • Board of Directors 
  • Board Chairman for the IGNITE Program
  • Legal Committee Member
 
Major County Sheriff In America
  • Regional Representative for 13 States
 
North Carolina Sheriff Association
  • Training Committee 
  • Legislative Committee 
 
American Correctional Association 
  • Board of Governors Chairman for Detention Centers
  • Performance – Base Standards Committee Member 
  • Behavior Health Committee Member 
  • Chairman of Sheriff’s Committee 
 
North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Committee 
  • Commissioner
 
Department of Homeland Security 
  • Faith Based Security Advisory Council