Durham City Manager Wanda Page Announces Interim Police Chief

DURHAM, NC – City Manager Wanda Page has appointed Deputy Chief Shari Montgomery as the interim police chief, while the City of Durham embarks on a national search to replace Chief Cerelyn J. Davis, who announced her resignation effective June 11.

“Deputy Chief Montgomery’s 22 years of service in the Police Department as well as to the Durham community make her an excellent choice to serve in the interim chief position as recruitment begins for a new police chief,” Page said. “Montgomery is a well-respected leader in the department who has risen through the ranks over the last two decades, and I’m happy that she was willing to provide continuity until a new police chief is named.”

Montgomery was promoted to deputy chief in May 2020, and was placed in charge of the Durham Police Department (DPD)’s Administrative Services Bureau, and is currently assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau. Montgomery, who was serving as the major of the Administrative Services Bureau when she was promoted last spring, has also served in the DPD’s Patrol Bureau, Criminal Investigations Division, Professional Standards Division, Traffic Services Unit (she has a motorcycle certification and is a crash reconstructionist), Training Division, and Fiscal Services.

Montgomery joined the DPD in March 1999. She has a bachelor’s degree in business accounting and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She also received certification from the Police Executive Research Forum/Senior Management Institute for Police; received the award for completion of the FBI Leeda Trilogy, which included the Supervisor Leadership, Command Leadership, and the Executive Leadership Institutes; and graduated from the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University.

Montgomery’s appointment as interim police chief is effective on June 12.