Office of the Police Chief


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Meet the Chief Deputy Chiefs and the Chief of Staff Public Affairs Office of Professional Standards Accreditation Fiscal Unit Research and Planning Unit

Dedicated civilian and sworn employees who work under the Office of the Chief carry out a variety of administrative and community support functions for the Raleigh Police Department.

Assigned to this office are the:

  • Public Affairs Office;
  • Research and Planning Unit;
  • Community Policing Coordinator; 
  • Finance Unit and Transcriptions; and,
  • Office of Professional Standards.

Meet the Chief

Raleigh Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson smiling in front of NC State flag and American Flag

Raleigh Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson 

Estella D. Patterson was appointed Chief of the Raleigh Police Department on August 1, 2021. As Raleigh’s senior law enforcement official, Chief Patterson leads the capital city’s police department of over 900 sworn and civilian employees. With a goal of making Raleigh the safest city in the nation, Chief Patterson’s priorities are to reduce violent crime, increase community engagement, and ensure employee wellness.

Read more about Chief Patterson

Deputy Chiefs and the Chief of Staff

The Chief of Police is assisted by two Deputy Chiefs and a Chief of Staff.

Rico Boyce, Deputy Chief of Operations
Oversees Field and Special Operations Divisions

Zachary Lechette, Ph.D., Deputy Chief of Administration
Oversees Administrative Services and Internal Affairs Divisions

Amanda Rolle, Chief of Staff
Oversees Office of the Chief and the Detective Division

Public Affairs

The Public Affairs Office serves within the Chief's Office and coordinates internal and external communications, media relations, and various informational and promotional materials. This includes preparing press releases, responding to public records requests and media inquiries, and maintaining the Department’s social media accounts. 

The Public Affairs Office is always seeking communications interns. To learn more about the internship program, visit our internship page or contact our office at 919-996-1262

Contact Public Affairs:
rpd.publicaffairs@raleighnc.gov
919-996-1262
 More information is available on public records requests as well.   

Staff:

  • Lieutenant Jason Borneo, Chief Public Information Officer
  • Detective Christopher Gay, Deputy Public Information Officer
  • Senior Communications Analyst: VACANT
  • Communications Analyst: Kiely Ellenberger
  • Communications Analyst and PIO: Darran Todd

Office of Professional Standards

The Office of Professional Standards was formed in 2012 and serves under the Chief's Office. The office encompasses the Internal Affairs Unit, Inspections Unit, and Accreditation Unit.

Accreditation

The Raleigh Police Department participates in the CALEA® Law Enforcement Accreditation process. As a part of this process, we provide an opportunity for public feedback via the CALEA Portal.
 
The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding our compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accreditation status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide our agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster our pursuit of professional excellence.
 
It is important to know that CALEA is not an investigatory body, and subsequently, the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgment to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.

Fiscal Unit

The Fiscal Unit handles all of the RPD’s financial matters, including budget preparation, purchasing, travel coordination, facilities management, and grant administration. The unit also ensures compliance with the City of Raleigh’s financial processes while monitoring departmental budget and expenditures.

Research and Planning Unit

The Research and Planning Unit is a part of the Chief’s Office. It is responsible for providing planning and research for the development, implementation and/or the operation of specialized departmental programs and operations by utilizing a variety of analysis techniques. The unit is responsible for preparing complex reports provided to the Chief of Police and members of the leadership team. The unit conducts or participates in studies and research projects for the department and provides in-depth research on law enforcement trends. The unit maintains the multi-year strategic business plan that documents departmental objectives, initiatives, and milestones, in addition to, the response and coordination of surveys. The unit also provides support and assistance to other department employees, city staff, and law enforcement partners.

Research and Planning Lieutenant: 
Scott Womack 
scott.womack@raleighnc.gov
tel:919-996-1248

A limited number of specialized program internships with the Research and Planning Unit are available.

For information regarding an internship with the Research and Planning Unit, contact Lieutenant Womack.

Department:
Police
Related Services:
Police Districts, Divisions, and Contacts

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