Durham police chief to provide quarterly crime report

Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez will address the Monday session of the city council to offer his quarterly update on crime in the Bull City.

Posted 10:14 a.m. May 4, 2015 — Updated 12:51 p.m. May 4, 2015

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez will address the Monday session of the city council to offer his quarterly update on crime in the Bull City.

While the contents of his report won't be public until 7 p.m., Lopez's department has been dealing with the fallout from a number of conflicts – both national and local – that have tested the community.

Durham has seen several marches in recent months by people pushing back against what they perceive as police overreach and racial bias.

On Dec. 5, 31 people were arrested after a march that blocked part of the Durham Freeway.

On April 17, families of some inmates at the Durham County Jail protested a crackdown on exercise and phone calls from inside.

On Friday evening, a peaceful protest in solidarity with Baltimore proceeded from the Durham Police Station to the Durham County Jail.

And as far back as November 2013, family and friends of a teen who killed himself in the back of a patrol car, angry at the investigation into that death, threw road flares, firecrackers and smoke bombs at Durham Police Headquarters.

A recent report from the Department of Justice, requested by the mayor, showed that city residents lack confidence in law enforcement.

The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza. Meetings are also streamed live and on demand on the City’s website.

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