City declines to release minutes of police settlement

Charlotte officials are refusing to release minutes from closed-door meetings on the $305,000 settlement with police chief Johnny Jennings

The following article appeared in the Aug. 6, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.

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Public records update: City won’t release minutes of police settlement talks

Police Chief Johnny Jennings spoke to the South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club last year. (Ledger file photo)

The City of Charlotte has declined to release minutes from two closed-door meetings in May where City Council members discussed and approved a controversial $305,000 settlement to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, even though the details of the settlement are already public.

Under North Carolina law, minutes from closed sessions are public records unless releasing them “would frustrate the purpose of the closed session.” However, the city believes that does not apply in this case, citing laws protecting personnel records.