Durham police officer says staffing shortages, longer response times hurt residents as well as department

One Durham police officer wanted to speak with WRAL News under the condition of anonymity, because he's worried.

Numbers from late March show 20 percent of the officer positions at the Durham Police Department are vacant. This officer said that comes at a risk to officers and the residents of Durham.

When you need police, you hope they'll arrive quickly. One veteran officer says more and more often that's not always the case in Durham.

"Typically, it's going to be a lower priority," the officer said. "We're not going to have a gunshot victim wait. But like a wreck, low priority calls can go hours without being dispatched."

The officer said staffing levels can create dangers for citizens and for the men and women on patrol.

"You may be in a battle for your life and your closest unit to check with you, running lights and sirens the whole way, is probably still a good 20 minutes away."

Speaking to City Council recently, Chief Patrice Andrews said the response times to the most serious calls are the worst she can recall, with Durham police arriving in an average time of 6:38.

"I think this is probably the furthest we have ever been off our target," Andrews said.

"Oh, absolutely," said the officer when asked if Durham residents be concerned.

The officer thinks pay and a local climate perceived as anti-police are to blame.

"I don't fault the chief for any of it," he said. "She's doing what she can to get morale boosted, attract applicants."

The Chief told city leaders billboards like this one will be going up around Durham. The department has started giving conditional job offers to recruits before they finish the academy.

"The idea is to get them before someone else gets them," said Andrews.

The Durham Police Department is really hoping for people to step up and serve. DPD released a statement addressing the matter.

"The Durham Police Department is aware of increased response times to low priority calls due to our staffing shortage. We take all of our officers’ concerns about safety seriously and we know it will take some time to build up our staffing levels."

The department is increasing supplemental pay for officers for $60 a hour in an effort to bring on employees along with implenting a $13,000 hiring incentive.

The next hiring event is June 1 at Durham police headquarters. Those interested can also attend on Zoom as they try to make it as easy as possible for people to apply.