Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews, with 25 years of service, will retire May 1, 2026, after leading the department for over five years
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews to Retire
The Durham Police Department announced on Thursday that Police Chief Patrice Andrews will retire this year.
According to a press release, Andrews will retire on May 1, 2026, after 25 years of service, including a little over five years as police chief. The release did not mention her replacement.
City Manager Bo Ferguson stated, “The City of Durham is deeply grateful for Chief Patrice Andrews’ 25 years of dedicated public service to our community. Her leadership has advanced the Police Department’s mission to work with our community to minimize crime, promote safety and enhance quality of life, as well as its vision of being a progressive, trusted partner for positive change.”
Andrews began her career with the department in May 1997. She served in various roles until June 2016, when she became the Chief of Police for Morrisville.
In November 2021, she returned to Durham to lead the police department.
The announcement of Andrews’s retirement comes four months after she faced scrutiny for comments made on her personal Facebook page regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
After that incident, Andrews received both support and backlash from the community. She also received a threatening letter and a suspicious substance sent to her office.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement Announcement | Thursday | Chief Patrice Andrews will retire on May 1, 2026. |
| Service Duration | 25 years | Andrews served in various roles since May 1997. |
| Chief of Morrisville | June 2016 | Andrews became Chief of Police for Morrisville. |
| Return to Durham | November 2021 | Andrews returned to lead the Durham Police Department. |
| Scrutiny Incident | Four months ago | Comments on Facebook about Charlie Kirk led to backlash. |
