'We need the help': Durham police chief, city leaders urge community organizations to help curb crime
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews emphasized the need Tuesday for a community solution to rising crime in the Bull City.
Andrews said an 8-year-old was the age of the youngest juvenile offender so far this year in Durham.
“Eight-year-olds, 9-year-olds, 10-year-olds, they shouldn't be the perpetrators of crime, nor should they be victims of crime,” Andrews said. “It's not a normal, natural thing, and it saddens me that this seems to be where we are right now.”
Andrews presented the city’s third-quarter crime report before the Durham City Council on Tuesday.
From January through September this year, Durham had 35 homicides 118 rapes, 366 robberies and 884 aggravated assaults.
Here’s how those figures compare to the first nine months in previous years:
- 2022: 32 homicides, 97 rapes, 465 robberies and 890 aggravated assaults
- 2021: 38 homicides, 91 rapes, 362 robberies and 1,108 aggravated assaults
- Three-year average: 35 homicides, 102 rapes, 398 robberies and 691 aggravated assaults
From January through September, there were 273 total crimes committed by people younger than 18. Durham police numbers show 54 larceny offenses, 34 weapons violations and 29 crimes of simple assault. Three juveniles face homicide charges.
On Tuesday, Andrews said the police department doesn’t have the capacity for community solutions that it did in years past. She said it’s time for other groups to step up.
Andrews said it’s about consistent intervention. However, with only 77% of the department’s sworn officer roles filled, Andrews said it cannot fall only on police.
“We need the help,” Andrews said. “The police department is at this point not able to carry the torch in the way we have done in five, 10 [and] 15 years prior.”
The highest juvenile crime numbers are for larceny, stolen property and weapon violations.
"Our kids are out and about, and they're getting in a lot of trouble," said Mayor-elect Leo Williams.
Williams said it's time to coordinate efforts by those trying to do good.
"We have a lot of organizations in this city that are mentoring, but there's a lot of mentoring in isolation, and I think, as a community, it's time for us to scale, scale our relationships, expand our capacity," Williams said.
Property crime has increased, Durham police data shows
Here’s a look at property crime for the first nine months of the year:
- 2023: 1,066 burglaries, 5,751 larcenies and 1,459 motor vehicle thefts
- 2022: 922 burglaries, 5,322 larcenies and 570 motor vehicle thefts
- 2021: 1,099 burglaries, 5,408 larcenies and 409 motor vehicle thefts
- Three-year average: 1,029 burglaries, 5,494 larcenies and 836 motor vehicle thefts
As the holiday season approaches, police are reminding the community to take precautions to protect your home and car.
