How many officers/deputies are there in the Raleigh police department (RPD)?
• Raleigh Police is allotted 796 sworn officers.
What qualifications have to be met for someone to be hired?
• Qualifications include a minimum age of 21, high school diploma or equivalent, current driver’s license, 20/20 vision + good character and moral background. The complete list can be found on the police hiring page.
Can you detail the training process for new officers/deputies?
• Generally speaking, once officers are pre-hired as recruits, they begin at the academy and commence approximately 1200 hours of state-mandated and RPD-specific classroom and practical training over the course of about seven months. This is followed by 20 weeks of field training with a Field Training Officer before they are released to work alone.
Can you detail any ongoing training requirements for officers/deputies?
• Ongoing training — what we call In-Service Training — consists of approximately 40 hours of annual classroom and practical training, which every sworn officer must take to keep his or her certification. Approximately 24 hours of this is state-mandated and the rest is mandated by the department. Topics range from driving and use of firearms to communicating with citizens with disabilities, etc. De-escalation is also reviewed whenever appropriate during the In-Service training.
What is the process for a citizen to access public police records?
• Incident reports are available at the Records Division located in the lobby of Police Headquarters, 6716 Six Forks Road between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Can you explain the policies and procedures related to how officers document their work?
• The policies can be found here.
What are the department’s policies related to use of force? What restraint tactics are approved for use in the department?
• The policies can be found here at page 524 (1108-01 Use of Force and Weapons).
Does the department currently use body cameras? If so, what are the policies on when they are worn and when they are actively recording?
• Yes, the department currently uses body cameras. The policies and procedures can be found here at page 716 (1109-18 Body Worn Cameras and Mobile Video Recording). The policy includes this statement on Body Worn Cameras, or BWCs — The BWC shall be activated to record as soon as feasible during all contacts involving actual or potential violations of the law including, but not strictly limited to: traffic stops, suspicious vehicles or persons, arrests + voluntary encounters of an investigative nature.
Is there a method for the public to report problems or concerns regarding their local police?
• Yes, all complaints will be accepted by the Internal Affairs Unit and can be received in person, by letter, by telephone, by email, or online form. Anonymous complaints are also accepted. More information can be found on the Internal Affairs webpage.
Is there a method for the public to share positive feedback or commentary regarding their local police?
• Yes, you can mail letters of compliment to the Chief of Police —
℅ Raleigh Police Department
6716 Six Forks Road,
Raleigh, NC 27615
Does the department have a Citizen Review Task Force or a similar type of organization that reviews police interactions in the community?
• Since May, the City has been in the process of reviewing applicants for a Police Advisory Board. More information can be found here.
Are there any policy changes related to the use of force currently in the works?
• Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown presented recommendations to the City Council during the June 9 work session. Editors’ note: During this session, the City Council voted for the RPD to restrict shooting at moving vehicles, ban the use of chokeholds and strangleholds + implement the use of de-escalation.
Which outside organizations are being vetted to undertake the department’s independent review, as called for by the Chief?
• The City Council will be updated at today’s regular meeting.
Do you have additional questions for the RPD? Let us know here. 📥