From police to politics? Durham chief discusses life after law enforcement

Durham’s police chief will step away from law enforcement when she retires this year.

Chief Patrice Andrews made the announcement last week that she would leave her position beginning May 1. Andrews held the position since November 2021.

Andrews spoke to WRAL at length about her career, the accomplishments, the areas she could have done better and the struggles her department has had working with other arms of the judicial system at the District Attorney’s Office.

“I’ve been in law enforcement a long time,” Andrews said. “Law enforcement folks will tell you that 30 years, that’s a long time to be in this profession. I have children and I want to follow them around the country and do what a mother does. I can’t do that when I have a full time job.”

It’s a decision where Andrews appears at ease. She feels during her time as the head of the Durham Police Department, she has prepared her successor for success.

“This department doesn’t need me anymore,” Andrews said. “We have a tremendous staff. Our executive team is ready to take the helm at any time. I feel good in knowing that now is the time and the department will be left in very good hands.”

Andrews says she’s proud of the reductions in violent and property crime during her tenure and also, reducing the number of officers leaving to go to other departments and increasing the number of people applying to join the team.

But when asked about what she could have done better, Andrews reflected personally.

“I could have been more present,” Andrews said. “I could have been more present in my community and been more present with my. Also, being able to balance my personal life as well. I will give everything to this profession and this agency and I have, often to the detriment of my own personal health and well-being.”

A career of personal sacrifice that she’s ready to move past. Andrews is excited about having more time with her two adult children. Time she can’t get back.

“I would say, personal sacrifices for your profession are never worth it,” Andrews said. “However, for me, I believe that what we received from having those moments away helped a broader community. It wasn’t about me or any one person. It was about improving the experience as a Durham Police Officer and a member of our team for both sworn and non-sworn staff but also our community and how we responded to our community.”

But the mental toll of the job is something she wanted to improve for DPD.

“The most difficult part is seeing how my staff really have shouldered a lot more than what they should have,” Andrews said. “A lot more work than what they should have.”

It’s a mental toll she sees daily. After the interview, Andrews joked around with her staff. Something they tell WRAL is quintessential of Andrews time as Chief. There are open door policies, but Andrews took it to another level.

Even through the more difficult and frustrating parts of the job.

WRAL has reported on the friction between Andrews’ office and Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry’s Office. Emails showing the two had differing opinions on handling the illegal dirt bike activity in the city.

But the conflict between the two arms of the judicial process aren’t why Andrews is stepping away.

“Not at all,” Andrews said. “There is never a perfect relationship. We agree to disagree and that’s ok. We move forward with my own team. We don’t always agree. I don’t ever want to surround myself with people that think exactly like I do, because nothing gets done. What I can say is that it is my hope that with some of the dialogue that we’ve continued to have with our District Attorney and members of the district attorney’s office, I hope that we can start making some progress and headway on many of really the toughest cases that we have here in the City of Durham.”

The toughest cases are some of what you’d expect; violent crime. It’s a barometer of the success of local law enforcement around the country. However, it’s not the only metric to Andrews. It also includes property crime.

“Property crime often turns into gateways of our violent crime,” Andrews said.

Look no further than Ryan Camacho, the man accused of killing a Wake County teacher in her home earlier this year. Camacho has a long criminal record in both Wake and Durham Counties. His cases in Durham have come under the microscope, after he had four felonies downgraded to one misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement from DA Deberry’s office.

Deberry told WRAL News, “A review of the cases shows that the evidence in Mr. Camacho’s cases did not support felony conviction.” She continued, “Charges must be proved by the evidence. And beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors can only deal with the facts before them.”  

The facts for prosecutors are presented by law enforcement. Chief Andrews’ law enforcement officers in most cases.

“Our job is to prepare the case,” Andrews said. “I will tell you, I don’t review every single case but I can tell you that I know the work of this team and I know our work that we do. We prepare complete cases.”

That preparation goes in tandem with communication with the DA’s Office, Andrews said.

“We always include the District Attorney’s Office in on the conversations around the facts, the evidence, oftentimes before even charging,” Andrews said. “That’s a positive for us because it helps us prepare the best case possible. They are aware every single step of the way what the evidence is in the case and if there’s more that they need, we trust that they will tell us that there’s more that they need.”

A felony conviction for Camacho could have kept him behind bars on Jan. 3, the day Zoe Welsh was killed.

So is Andrews satisfied with how the justice system handled Camacho’s cases in Durham County?

“I don’t have an opinion on that,” she said.

What’s ahead for Andrews isn’t entirely clear.

“Just doing something different,” she said.

Different will include dropping the badge. This retirement is exactly that from law enforcement. Andrews made clear, this isn’t about moving on and becoming a chief elsewhere.

The end of her law enforcement career could mean the future of a different career path.

Possibly, politics?

“Maybe,” Andrews said. “I’m not closing the door on that. I’m a public servant at heart. I love this community.”

And her love for the community is why she wants to make sure she still has a voice in making things better, even if it’s not from the third floor of the Durham Police Department.

“There are things that happen here that I don’t necessarily agree with,” Andrews said. “I do believe that whether it’s me being supportive of another public servant or another politician or I might become one? I don’t know. But I know that I have not closed the door on that portion.”