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Durham police chief faces scrutiny for deleted post about Charlie Kirk
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews is facing scrutiny after making a now-deleted personal Facebook post about the late Charlie Kirk, calling him a man who “shamed Black women like me” and created a “culture of divisiveness.” The city of Durham is reviewing the matter.
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews is receiving scrutiny for social media comments she made about the late Charlie Kirk.
A 22-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing Kirk on Wednesday at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
In a now-deleted Facebook post on her personal page, Andrews said she's outraged by people she knows who still support Kirk.
“I won't stop being outraged at the way this man is being honored by people that I thought I knew,” Andrews wrote in the deleted post. “This man, who disguised himself as a Christian, shamed Black women like me, believed that gun violence was necessary to preserve the 2nd amendment, and created a culture of divisiveness through hate speech."
One of Kirk's comments about Black women came on Jan. 3, 2024, on his podcast when he said, “If I'm dealing with somebody in customer service who's a moronic Black woman, I don't – I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because affirmative action? It almost creates thought patterns that are not necessarily wholesome. It creates resentment, doesn't it? This is not a way to design society.”
Andrews wrote, "So, at the time of his death, I chose to give him the empathy that he didn't believe in and certainly didn't believe that people like me deserved. But to know many of you STILL support him despite his horrible rhetoric.. I cannot.”
WRAL News requested an interview with Andrews, but she declined. Andrews did meet on Monday with Durham City Manager Bo Ferguson.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams on Monday said of Andrews' deleted post, “This is, to some, a shut up and dribble moment.”
He was echoing a comment by Fox News host Laura Ingraham who said in 2018 that NBA star LeBron James should "shut up and dribble," after the All-Star spoke out about politics.
Durham mayor on police chief’s Charlie Kirk post: ‘We’re reviewing the matter’
On Monday, Williams made a Facebook post in support of the freedom of speech and Andrews.
"Charlie Kirk lived his life and made choices for his own reasons," Williams wrote in part. "While I personally disagree with nearly everything he stood for, I do agree that everyone should be able to express their own views.
"I do not condone violence or the killing of anyone exercising their freedom of speech. That being said, challenging or disagreeing with someone's legacy does not, in fact, condone violence. IT is simply an exercise of freedom of speech."
Williams wrote that Durham leaders carry "broader implications as publicly serving officials."
"I support her [Williams'] freedom of speech in her personal capacity like I do those who have reached out and requested her resignation," Williams wrote.
Williams answered several of WRAL News’ questions about Andrews’ post.
“The city of Durham is aware of a personal social media post made by Police Chief Patrice Andrews, and the post was made on the chief's personal social media account and not any official city or police department platform we oversee,” Williams said. “We're reviewing the matter to determine whether any city policies were violated.”
WRAL News asked Williams if the city of Durham directed Andrews to take down the post. Williams said he wasn’t sure.
Also, WRAL News asked Williams if the city’s chief of police should make statements like she did on social media.
“That's the most interesting question right now, because we cannot be selective on who gets to exercise the First Amendment,” Williams said. “I have been in the hot seat myself several times, speaking of my own capacity.
https://www.wral.com/news/local/durham-police-chief-scrutiny-deleted-post-charlie-kirk-september-2025/