Durham Police Department

Welcome from the Chief of Police

Welcome to the Durham Police Department's section of the Town of Durham web site. The Durham Police Department is a full-service, CALEA accredited law enforcement organization comprised of 21 full-time police officers; 1 part-time police officer; 3 full-time civilian and 2 part-time civilian employees who are highly competent, dedicated and committed to their community.  We strive to create an environment that fosters the development of partnerships within our community.    

Employment Information

The Durham Police Department is a member of the Great Bay Community College Police Testing Alliance. At least twice each year, the Alliance offers testing to establish an eligibility list from which the member agencies draw applicants. The standardized testing is comprised of a general intelligence segment with a psychological component. Each Alliance member's hiring process is unique to that organization. Candidates must be 21 years old by date of appointment. Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, but a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.

End of Year Reporting – Transparency in Policing

Transparency Between Law Enforcement and the Community We Serve: Each January, the police Captain prepares a summary analysis of all incidents involving force; internal affairs; pursuits; bias; and our efforts related to our hiring process, just to name a few. The reports document the departments conduct during the preceding calendar year and are submitted for review by the Chief of Police. The submitted reports are a requirement of the CALEA accreditation process that embraces “best practices” in the law enforcement industry.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Durham Police Department is to improve the quality of life by preserving the peace and safety of the community through the formation of partnerships, creating positive interaction between the public and the police while continuing to serve the unique needs of the Durham community.

Values Statement

The Durham Police Department consists of dedicated professionals who are committed to a team environment, creatively solving problems. We believe in:
•The Value of human life
•The courage to do what is right
•Accountability to ourselves and to our community
•Fairness, compassion and approachability in the performance of our duties
•Continuous improvement