City of Durham Announces Police Chief (Oct. 11, 2021)

Durham City Manager Wanda Page has named Patrice V. Andrews as the next police chief of @thedurhampolice. Chief Andrews has served as the police chief for the @townofmorrisvillenc Police Department since 2016, and will join our organization on November 1. To learn more about Chief Andrews and our police chief search process, watch this short video or visit durhamnc.gov/policechief.
Transcript:
- City Manager Wanda Page: I'm City Manager, Wanda Page. And I'm here today to introduce to you Durham's new Police Chief. But before I do, I want you to know how we got to this point. This past spring, after our former Police Chief announced that she had accepted the Memphis Police Chief position, we hired a national search firm, one known for their expert abilities to match the right person with the right position. Their selection process for the Durham Police Chief position was robust, including thorough background checks, extensive interviews and measurements that allowed us to determine the true competencies of each candidate. The process also included reaching out to Durham residents, through surveys and focus groups to get a better understanding of the type of qualities wanted in our next Police Chief, as well as the biggest public safety issues you felt were facing our community. As always, we appreciated the feedback and used it to develop the interview process for the candidates. During this intensive and multifaceted selection process that involved, among others, nine Durham community leaders from the business, non-profit, law enforcement and the community at large, we arrived at a top candidate. We had anticipated this process might produce two top candidates who were closely ranked and thus would require for the vetting by the city and community. But that was not the case. As there was one clear top candidate who demonstrated skills, knowledge and judgment at such a high level that I decided to move forward with her selection as the next Chief of Durham. Perhaps the best part of my decision is the fact that many of you know her, Patrice Andrews, who has deep family roots right here in Durham, and who served in the Durham Police Department for nearly 20 years. Rising through the ranks as a police officer, patrolling the streets, to leadership positions before earning the rank of Captain. Even more exciting is that the best fit for Durham was not very far away at all. She was serving as the Police Chief of Morrisville and is now ready to return home to the Bull City to serve this community once again. It's my honor to introduce Durham's next Police Chief, Patrice Andrews.
- Police Chief Patrice Andrews: Thank you, City Manager Page for the warm welcome and thank you for selecting me to be the next Police Chief for the city of Durham Police Department. Thank you. Hello, Durham. This is a full circle moment for me during a pivotal time in our city and police department. As your Chief, I am committed to working collaboratively with the City of Durham Management Team, members of the Durham Police Department and the entire Durham community to build upon established successes and identify innovative strategies to reduce violent crime while addressing, recruiting, retention and morale within the Durham Police Department. I am truly looking forward to seeing you on November, 1st.
- City Manager Wanda Page: Chief Andrews, it is good to welcome you back home to the Bull City. I have every confidence that Chief Andrews is the right person to lead the Durham Police Department at this time. She knows Durham and stands ready to reignite the solid community relationship that will lead our police department into the future. I know you'll join me in welcoming her home and in supporting her as she leads the Durham Police Department.
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[@shelanderson9088]

Thanks for bringing so much community involvement to the process, City Manager. And welcome to our new Police Chief!

[@pepperhines7209]

Welcome HOME!!

[@wassupguys6387]

Welcome Patrice Andrews

[@lisaannprice3733]

We are not children

[@whysoserious4321]

I quit… and about 105 other officers. Y’all did no research at all if you did you would look at her history in Morrisville and her prior history in Durham… You did like Morrisville town manager and saw she was a woman and hired her… what a joke…