Bull City United discontinued: Durham County leaders terminate anti-violence program

Durham County leaders announced Friday the termination of the anti-violence program Bull City United.

The decision to shut down Bull City United is effective Friday.

The county said the decision impacts 20 full-time and contracted employees.

“After reviewing Bull City United’s impact and alignment with the community’s evolving needs the Community Intervention and Support Services (CISS) department will phase out the program,” a county spokesperson said in a statement to WRAL News.

Bull City United has received millions of dollars in taxpayer funding since its inception in November 2016. It was founded to address shootings in two areas in Durham County with a team of seven staff members. According to the group's mission statement, it aimed to reduce violence in the community by hiring people with criminal histories who could convince others there's a better way.

The county expended the program in 2021 to 25 staff members across six areas in the county.

Mayor Pro Tem Mark Anthony Middleton told WRAL News he was disappointed with the decision to terminate the program, but didn't want people to conflate the ending with the efficacy of the general model.

"I'm hoping that maybe in the future we can take a look and maybe we need to do better vetting in terms of hiring," he said.

According to the county, more than $1.06 million of the program's $2.57 million budget is funded by the city of Durham.

Durham City Council in December opted to ends its contract with ShotSpotter, which was a pilot program that used technology to detect sounds of gunfire and alert police.

"Shot Spotter wasn't picked up. Now we won't have violence interpreters to show up the next day or at the hospital to talk to victims to try and not get them to retaliate," Middletons said.

Bull City United was not without controversy. Several employees with the program have been charged with various crimes since the program was founded.

County leaders began reviewing Bull City United after a man involved in the program was charged as an accessory after the fact in the 2022 murder of a 19-year-old.

“The CISS department is dedicated to facilitating a smooth transition by offering support and connecting individuals to career and professional development resources as they seek new opportunities, at their request,” said Joanne Pierce, Assistant County Manager of Community Well-Being.

WRAL News reached out to Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, who provided the following statement:

"No policy or proigram can be what we want it to be when operating in isolation. I hope lessons were learned from our time with BCU and other similar programs from around the country. That way, if the county entertains bringing it back, we will have more data to implement [it] better. THe city stand ready to support, as always."