Federal Civil Rights Investigation Expands Into Conduct of Former Raleigh Police Officer

Federal authorities are seeking potential victims and witnesses as a civil rights investigation widens into the alleged conduct of a former Raleigh police officer accused of abusing his position of authority during official duties.

The investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation through its Charlotte Division, in coordination with the Raleigh Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Federal agents confirmed they are actively attempting to identify individuals who may have been victimized by or witnessed misconduct involving Tremale Cogdell, a former Raleigh police officer.

According to investigators, the case originated in September 2025, when the State Bureau of Investigation notified Raleigh Police Department leadership that it was examining allegations involving one of its officers. The inquiry focused on an incident that allegedly occurred during the early morning hours of September 12, 2025, while Cogdell was on duty and acting in his official capacity.

Investigative findings indicate that Cogdell encountered an individual during a motor vehicle–related call for service. After concluding the traffic investigation, Cogdell is accused of transporting the individual in a City of Raleigh police vehicle to his private residence, where a sexual encounter allegedly occurred. Authorities are examining whether the encounter involved coercion, abuse of authority, or violations of constitutional protections afforded to individuals in police custody or under police control.

Once the allegations were brought forward, Raleigh Police Department leadership immediately placed Cogdell on administrative leave. Following an internal administrative review, Cogdell was terminated from the department. Subsequent coordination between state investigators and local authorities led to criminal charges.

On October 3, 2025, Cogdell was arrested and charged at the state level with:

• Felony obstruction of justice
• Felony sexual misconduct involving a person in custody
• Misdemeanor willful neglect of duties

Federal officials emphasized that state charges do not preclude federal action. The FBI has now assumed a lead role in examining whether Cogdell’s alleged conduct constitutes civil rights violations under federal law, including potential deprivation of rights under color of law. Such cases focus not only on individual criminal acts, but on the misuse of official authority to coerce, exploit, or silence victims.

As part of the federal inquiry, investigators are actively seeking additional victims or witnesses who may have had encounters with Cogdell during his tenure as a Raleigh police officer, which spanned May 2023 through September 2025. Authorities stressed that misconduct of this nature is often underreported due to fear, confusion about legal rights, or concern over retaliation, particularly when the accused individual holds law-enforcement power.

To facilitate outreach, the FBI has established a secure digital intake form allowing potential victims or witnesses to submit information directly to federal agents for follow-up. Investigators stated that all submissions will be reviewed confidentially and handled with sensitivity, and that coming forward does not automatically require public identification.

Federal officials underscored that civil rights investigations involving law enforcement officers are treated with heightened seriousness due to the trust placed in officers and the potential for lasting harm when that trust is violated. They noted that identifying patterns of behavior — rather than isolated incidents — is often critical in determining the full scope of misconduct and ensuring accountability.

The investigation remains active. Authorities confirmed that additional charges, either state or federal, may be pursued depending on the evidence developed. The former officer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Anyone with information related to encounters with Tremale Cogdell while he served as a Raleigh police officer is encouraged to contact federal investigators through the FBI’s designated reporting channels.

As part of the federal inquiry, the FBI has established a secure intake portal for potential victims or witnesses to submit information directly to investigators at https://www.fbi.gov/FormerOfficerVictims.

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