Durham Names Stephanie Mardis as Next Police Chief as City Targets Violent Crime
DURHAM, N.C. — Durham has selected veteran law enforcement executive Stephanie Mardis as its next chief of police, placing the Greensboro assistant chief at the helm of the department as the city rolls out a new violence reduction strategy aimed at cutting shootings and homicides by 10% each year.
Mardis, who has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience, will officially begin leading the Durham Police Department on Sept. 8, 2026.
Her appointment was announced Monday, Aug. 10, following what city officials described as a rigorous, community-informed national search incorporating resident feedback, public safety perspectives and priorities identified during Durham’s recent Violence Reduction Summit.
Mardis Brings More Than Two Decades of Law Enforcement Experience
Mardis currently serves as an assistant chief with the Greensboro Police Department, where her career has included leadership responsibilities across nearly every major area of policing.
Her experience includes:
- Patrol operations
- Narcotics investigations
- Tactical operations
- Criminal investigations
- District command
- Professional standards
- Resource management
- Executive administration
According to the City of Durham, Mardis has developed a reputation for combining operational leadership with accountability, ethical decision-making, officer development and community engagement.
That experience will be particularly important as Durham attempts to strengthen public safety while building trust between law enforcement and residents.
Mardis Developed Greensboro Police Accountability and Community Programs
During her tenure in Greensboro, Mardis developed several initiatives designed to improve investigations, transparency and relationships between police and the community.
She founded the Police and Community Alliance for Peace Forum, an initiative aimed at strengthening dialogue and partnerships between residents and law enforcement.
Mardis also created Greensboro’s Criminal Investigations Division Academy and Advanced CID Academy, providing additional training and development for detectives.
She designed the department’s first body-worn camera audit and compliance system, which Durham officials described as an early statewide model for police accountability and public trust.
Her work also included expanding support for families affected by homicide.
City Manager Says Durham Residents Helped Shape Police Chief Search
Durham City Manager Bo Ferguson said community priorities were incorporated into the selection process from the beginning.
“Durham residents helped define the priorities for this search from the very beginning,” Ferguson said. “Chief Mardis demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep operational experience, and a clear dedication to transparency and community partnership.”
Ferguson said Mardis is taking over the department at a pivotal time for public safety in Durham.
“Durham’s violence reduction strategy calls for focused support and accountability, strengthened community-based outreach, place-based partnerships in areas where violence concentrates, and trauma-informed approaches at every level,” he said.
According to Ferguson, Mardis has demonstrated the leadership and operational experience necessary to implement those strategies while maintaining community involvement.
Law Enforcement Representatives Support Selection
Robert Gaddy, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Durham County Lodge 2, participated in the assessment center used during the selection process and expressed support for Mardis.
“It was clear throughout the assessment process that Stephanie Mardis is a strong and thoughtful leader who understands both the challenges and the opportunities facing modern policing,” Gaddy said.
He pointed specifically to her experience, integrity and commitment to community partnerships.
“I was impressed by her ability to connect with people, ask the right questions, and demonstrate a genuine respect for officers and the work we do,” Gaddy added. “I believe she will be an excellent chief for Durham.”
Mardis: ‘I Am Deeply Honored’
Mardis said she intends to make transparency and community relationships central to her leadership of the Durham Police Department.
“I am deeply honored to serve the residents of Durham as the next chief of police,” Mardis said.
She said the values emphasized throughout her career align closely with Durham’s public safety priorities.
“Throughout my career, I have been committed to principled leadership, transparency, and strong community partnerships — values that align closely with Durham’s vision for public safety,” she said.
Mardis also emphasized constitutional policing, officer wellness, and evidence-based crime-reduction strategies.
She said she plans to work with Durham residents, community organizations and public safety partners to ensure the city’s violence reduction efforts are “trauma-informed, evidence-based, and rooted in the needs of those most affected by violence.”
New Chief Will Help Lead Durham’s Violence Reduction Strategy
Mardis arrives as Durham begins implementing strategies developed through its recent Summit on Saving Lives.
The city’s stated goal is significant: reduce shootings and homicides by 10% each year.
As police chief, Mardis is expected to lead the department’s role in several components of that strategy, including:
- Focused deterrence
- Strengthened street outreach
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Place-based partnerships
- Concentrating resources in neighborhoods most affected by violence
The strategy seeks to combine traditional law enforcement with community intervention and prevention efforts.
Who Is Stephanie Mardis?
Mardis’ professional development includes some of the nation’s leading law enforcement leadership programs.
She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Senior Management Institute for Police, N.C. State University’s Administrative Officers Management Program and Leadership Greensboro.
Her academic credentials include:
- Criminal justice education certification from the University of Virginia
- Master’s degree in public administration/public policy from Liberty University
- Bachelor’s degree from Bennett College
Mardis also serves as a commissioner on the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
She holds leadership roles with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Interim Chief Walter Tate Praised for Leading Department Through Transition
Mardis will succeed Interim Chief Walter Tate, who has led the Durham Police Department since May following the retirement of former Police Chief Patrice Andrews.
Ferguson praised Tate for providing stability during the leadership transition.
“I want to share my sincere appreciation for Deputy Chief Tate, whose steady leadership and deep commitment to our community have guided the department through this transition,” Ferguson said.
He credited Tate’s professionalism and experience with maintaining continuity within the department while the national search was underway.
“Chief Mardis will inherit a well-led, highly capable department thanks to his work,” Ferguson said.
Mardis Starts Sept. 8, Community Meetings Planned
Mardis will officially begin her Durham Police Department tenure on Sept. 8.
Residents will have opportunities to meet and engage with the new chief following her arrival.
She is expected to participate in National Night Out on Oct. 6, and the city plans additional community meet-and-greet events in the coming months.
Her arrival will mark the beginning of a consequential period for Durham policing as city leaders seek measurable reductions in violent crime while emphasizing community engagement, accountability and public trust.
Conclusion
Durham’s selection of Stephanie Mardis comes at a time when the city is putting violent crime reduction at the center of its public safety agenda. With more than two decades of policing experience and a record that includes investigative training, body-camera accountability and community partnerships, Mardis will now be tasked with translating that experience to the Bull City. When she takes office Sept. 8, one of the clearest measures of that leadership will be whether Durham can turn its new violence reduction strategy into safer neighborhoods and fewer lives lost to gun violence.