Durham Launches Civilian Crash Unit to Improve Police Response to Violent Crimes
DURHAM, NC – The Durham Police Department has officially launched a Civilian Traffic Investigation Unit—a new initiative designed to reduce officer response times for minor traffic accidents and give police more time to focus on violent crime investigations.
“This is a tremendous, tremendous help for our team,” said Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews during the program’s announcement this week.
The rollout comes at a critical time for the Bull City, which is continuing to battle gun violence, including a recent shooting on Fayetteville Road that injured two 17-year-olds.
Trained Civilians to Handle Non-Violent Traffic Incidents
Instead of sending sworn police officers to every fender bender or minor crash, the new unit will dispatch trained civilians to those scenes. These individuals undergo extensive training—including classroom instruction and several weeks of supervised fieldwork—before hitting the streets.
Gerald Wallace, the first person to complete the program, has already begun patrols and has the authority to call in uniformed officers if a situation escalates.
“Every crash is different. Every situation is different. Everyone’s response to a crash is different,” said Wallace.
By removing officers from lower-priority calls, Durham officials hope to redirect their attention to more serious, time-sensitive investigations—especially those involving gun violence and other life-threatening incidents.
Part of a Growing Statewide Trend
Durham joins several other North Carolina cities—including Raleigh, Burlington, Greensboro, and Wilmington—that have implemented similar programs.
Raleigh’s unit, launched roughly a year ago, has been viewed as a success by local officials, prompting other cities to follow suit.
Durham plans to expand the program further, with three full-time civilian investigators expected by August 1.
The Need for a Smarter Response
The announcement follows a violent weekend in Durham, where a 17-year-old was shot in the leg and another teen suffered a bullet graze wound in a Fayetteville Road shooting. So far this year, 32 violent crime incidents have been reported—slightly down compared to the same time last year.
Still, Chief Andrews says the workload remains intense for investigators and front-line staff.
“There’s a lot of work to be done in and around the space of figuring out why it’s happening, what we can do about it, and what resources we can provide,” she said. “This new unit will help us prioritize the serious stuff.”
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