Pat Norris Retiring as Chief of Police

Office of the City Manager - Nov. 21, 2007
Contact: Lee D. Garrity 747-7380

Patricia D. Norris, Winston-Salem’s chief of police since 2004, has announced that she plans to retire at the end of June 2008.

Norris began working with the city in 1976 as an engineering aide in the Traffic Engineering Department. In 1977, she was hired as a police officer trainee and subsequently rose through the ranks. She was sworn in as Winston-Salem’s 12th chief of police on February 27, 2004. Norris is a life-long resident of Winston-Salem. She graduated from Reynolds High School and received her bachelor of arts degree from Winston-Salem State University. She is also a graduate of the Administrative Officers’ Management Program at N.C. State University.

Norris serves on the boards of the Salvation Army Girls’ Club; Forsyth Futures; the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; the Liberty Community Development Corporation; the Northwest North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross; Mediation Services of Forsyth County; Communities in Schools of Forsyth County; and the executive committee of the WSSU Center for Community Safety. She is the Region IV director of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the North Carolina Police Executives Association. Norris was named to the North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission shortly after her appointment as police chief.

Under her direction, the police department has taken major steps in rebuilding a trustful relationship with the community. During her four years as chief, she has also implemented innovative new investigative techniques, including video interviews and a new computer-generated photo lineup procedure.

City Manager Lee Garrity complimented Norris on her commitment to the department and the community. “Norris has worked tirelessly to improve the relationship between the police and our citizens. She has truly been the most accessible police chief I have ever seen. In addition, she has willingly led her department through the Debra Sykes review and has accomplished all of the recommendations that came from that review.”

Norris said, “I am proud that we have increased our community trust. In addition, I am excited that we have finally made real progress in obtaining new training facilities for our officers. Before I leave, I plan on seeing our firing range and training building fully under construction.”

Garrity said he is grateful that Norris has given the city plenty of time to search for chief candidates of her caliber. “I plan to conduct a national search that includes significant opportunities for input from elected officials, police employees, and the community. We should be able to announce the details of the selection process by the beginning of the new year.”

As for future plans, Norris said, “I look forward to focusing my energy on my family and friends. I am also eager to consider new opportunities to serve my community.”