NC Trooper Firing: A Breach of Trust and Accountability
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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North Carolina Troopers Fired
Two North Carolina state troopers, Sgt. Matthew Morrison and Trooper Garrett Macario, were terminated from their positions on June 16, 2025. Their dismissal came after authorities determined they had lied and mishandled an investigation into a deadly crash that resulted in the death of Tyrone Mason (Atlanta Black Star). This serious action by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) underscores the critical importance of truthfulness and integrity within law enforcement agencies.
The troopers had been placed on administrative leave since January 2025, following the emergence of discrepancies in the investigation surrounding Tyrone Mason’s death (Atlanta Black Star). Administrative leave means that the troopers were temporarily removed from their duties with pay while the investigation proceeded (indyweek.com). This standard practice allows for an impartial review of serious allegations without the officers actively performing their duties. Tyrone Mason, a 31-year-old Black driver, tragically died on October 7, 2024, when his 2018 Chevrolet Malibu crashed into a concrete barrier (Atlanta Black Star).
The Deception Unveiled
The core of the misconduct centered on Trooper Macario’s failure to disclose a critical detail: he had been chasing Mason just before the fatal crash (Atlanta Black Star). When local law enforcement arrived at the scene, Macario, who had called in the crash, omitted this crucial information. He initially confided only in his supervisor, Sgt. Morrison, about the pursuit (Atlanta Black Star).
According to a North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) report, Macario had given up the chase shortly before Mason lost control of his vehicle. Subsequently, Sgt. Morrison advised Macario to deny any involvement in the incident. Instead, Morrison instructed Macario to claim he had simply “rolled up on” the wreck (Atlanta Black Star). In law enforcement terms, to “roll up on” a wreck means to arrive at the scene without having been directly involved in the events leading to it. This instruction was a deliberate attempt to fabricate a false narrative, distancing Macario from any responsibility for the crash (NC Newsline). Body camera footage later revealed Macario lying to Raleigh police officers about pursuing Tyrone Mason, directly contradicting his false statements (wunc.org).
The Investigation’s Critical Role
The truth began to surface when Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman initiated an investigation into the matter in December 2024 (Atlanta Black Star). A crucial element in her investigation was the review of dashcam and bodycam footage. These recordings are vital tools in modern policing, serving to document interactions, ensure accountability, and provide objective evidence in investigations (axios.com). In this particular case, the footage proved instrumental in exposing the troopers’ deception and misconduct, leading to significant consequences.
Upon reviewing the extensive footage, District Attorney Freeman concluded that the troopers had indeed lied to local police and had violated North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) standards (Atlanta Black Star). While the specific NCSHP standards are not detailed, the actions of Trooper Macario and Sgt. Morrison, which included lying about involvement in a pursuit and failing to render aid, represent severe misconduct. Such actions fundamentally violate core law enforcement standards related to honesty, integrity, and the duty to assist citizens in distress (wunc.org).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
