Durham seeks public input while searching for new police chief

Two forums will be help this month for Durham residents interested in providing feedback for city officials to consider in the search for the next police chief.

Posted 7:50 p.m. Dec 4, 2015 — Updated 7:50 p.m. Dec 4, 2015

DURHAM, N.C. — Two forums will be help this month for Durham residents interested in providing feedback for city officials to consider in the search for the next police chief.

The forums will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Holton Career and Resource Center, 401 N. Driver St., and at 5:45 p.m. Dec. 15 at El Centro Hispano, 600 E. Main St.

Residents who can’t attend either meetings but still wish to provide feedback can visit a website set up by Developmental Associates LLC, the search agency hired to help find a successor to Police Chief Jose Lopez.

Lopez is retiring at the end of the month, and Deputy Chief Larry Smith, a 27-year veteran of the Durham Police Department, will serve as interim police chief beginning Jan. 1.

City Manager Tom Bonfield said the recruitment process for a new chief is expected to take about four months.

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