Durham City Council rejects police tech proposal

Tuesday, February 3, 2026
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Durham City Council is no longer moving forward with a proposed contract by Peregrine Technologies that would help manage data into a single interface for Durham Police.

"The staff heard an overwhelming majority on council that did not want to move forward with this contract," council member Chelsea Cook said in a virtual meeting on Monday.

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The software was seen as a potential to create a "real-time crime center," which could help make operations more efficient and reduce the time required for investigations by Durham Police.

"It is a software technology that allows them to be more efficient and respond quicker," Durham Mayor Leo Williams said.

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The decision comes after another surveillance technology, ShotSpotter, failed after the city council voted not to renew its contract.



Poet Williams, who is a Durham native and community advocate, said he has concerns about this type of technology and hopes for better ways to reduce violence.

"Helping the folks who are most directly impacted in the community to actually educate and activate in a way that actually reduces all of the things that we want," Williams said. "Having less violence because people actually have a way, first of all, processes of knowing how to communicate with one another."

Although the city is not moving forward with this contract, the city will continue to work to find ways to reduce violence and support the police, according to a city spokesperson.



"Going forward, the City Manager will continue to evaluate needs and technology requests from the Police Department to support their work and mission, while also respecting the concerns and questions raised by the Council and community during the recent Council discussion," City Communications Director Amy Blalock said.
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