Chris Blue
Assistant Chief

Starting this weekend, the Chapel Hill Police Department plans to undertake a unique approach to hear about our community’s expectations of us. Beginning on Feb. 6, we will hold a series of community conversations to hear how we are doing as an organization. Each session will last no more than two hours and will be managed by an outside facilitator. The input will be used to develop a strategic plan aimed at improving the community-oriented policing program in Chapel Hill.

We’re hoping that residents, merchants, students, and other community stakeholders will attend one of the sessions to help us think about the following questions:

1. What first comes to mind when you think of the Chapel Hill Police Department?

2. In what ways is the Chapel Hill Police Department active in your community?

3. Are there additional ways you want the Chapel Hill Police Department to serve your community?

4. If you think there is a gap between what you want from the Chapel Hill Police Department and what you get, how can we work together to close that gap?

5. What else would you like the Chapel Hill Police Department to know or do?

The conversations will be held on the following dates at the locations shown below:

Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. — Chapel Hill Public Library
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. — United Church of Chapel Hill
Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. — St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Thursday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m. — Hargraves Community Center

We hope that you will take advantage of one of these opportunities to let us know how we are doing as your police department and how we can better meet the expectations that you have for us. We invite you to join us in talking about our relationship with the community and we are committed to renewing some of our long-held community relationships and forging some new ones. If you would like to attend one of the public conversations, please RSVP to outreach@townofchapelhill.org

If you can’t attend, please send any comments to the same email address.

We hope that you will join us as we begin this important work. We’ll supply the coffee and doughnuts.