CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden issued an apology Thursday for "racially charged" language he used in a video amid a controversy that saw his chief deputy resign over allegations of a toxic work environment and unprofessionalism.
"It doesn't matter who recorded it or how many years ago it was or if it was recorded today," McFadden said. "I want to apologize for that language. Held to a higher standard, that's the office of the sheriff. But you must understand that I am human and I'm not perfect and I will make mistakes."
McFadden's comments come after former Chief Deputy Kevin Canty resigned from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. In an interview with WCNC Charlotte, Canty accused McFadden of fostering a hostile work environment. During the interview, Canty said McFadden conducted himself like a "third-world dictator" who was running the sheriff's office into the ground by demoralizing staff members.
Canty told WCNC Charlotte's Austin Walker that he heard McFadden use derogatory words to describe white deputies and said Black employees had a "plantation mentality." WCNC Charlotte obtained audio of one of the meetings where McFadden was present. He's quoted as calling one white deputy a racially pejorative term.
The sheriff's office announced several personnel changes on Friday, including appointing Christopher Allen as interim chief deputy. Allen joined the agency from the Union County Sheriff's Office earlier this year and has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience.
In addition to other leadership changes, Mecklenburg County officials confirmed two employees were terminated by the sheriff's office. Canty told WCNC Charlotte that McFadden repeatedly attempted to get him to "unjustly fire" those employees, who were under his supervision. Both employees were fired after Canty's resignation. The sheriff's office said it could not disclose personnel matters or what led to their firings.
McFadden didn't mention Canty by name in his apology but referenced interviews where people could "talk open and freely."
"I'm bound by law and I can't speak openly and freely, but I'm still committed to this community," McFadden said. "I'm still committed to the residents in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center and I'm still committed to my staff. But I want you all to be patient with me because I still have to run the largest sheriff's office in North Carolina and one of the largest detention center offices in North Carolina."
It's the first time McFadden's addressed the controversy since he spoke at a recruits' graduation ceremony last week. During that speech, McFadden said his character and integrity were being criticized and defended himself against racism allegations.
"If you believe that I'm racist, talk to the people that know me," McFadden said. "Sure, I will lose some of the people who will claim to be my friends or who claim to have my back."
The Executive Committee of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association met on Thursday with McFadden. In a statement released to WCNC Charlotte after the meeting, the association said they expressed their displeasure with McFadden's 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.