The city of durham through the durham police department (DPD), is applying for the 2025 community policing development microgrant under subcategory, uplifting the image of the law enforcement…

The Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Program awarded the City of Durham $117,649 on October 1, 2025, under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710) to support the Durham Police Department's community policing initiative.

The funding supports five major activities designed to uplift the law enforcement profession through digital engagement: podcast development and production, community engagement and storytelling, public education campaigns, recruitment-focused episodes, and marketing and promotion. The Durham Police Department will leverage digital storytelling through a podcast platform to humanize officers, build community trust, and create a venue for transparent dialogue with the public. The initiative positions DPD as a transparent and people-centered agency and establishes a modern, scalable community-first outreach strategy.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2027, with work performed in Durham, North Carolina. This project grant represents one element of the City of Durham's broader grant portfolio, which spans 196 awards with combined obligated value of $270.2 million across 26 federal customer agencies, with the Department of Transportation and Department of Justice as primary funding sources.

The city of durham through the durham police department (DPD), is applying for the 2025 community policing development microgrant under subcategory, uplifting the image of the law enforcement profession. DPD is requesting $175,000 in support of a modern, scalable, and community-first strategy that repositions DPD as a transparent, forward-thinking, and people-centered agencysetting a new standard for law enforcement outreach in north carolina. If funded the following five major activities will be implemented as part of the strategy to uplift the law enforcement profession: podcast development and production; community engagement and storytelling; public education campaigns; recruitment focused episodes; marketing and promotion. The durham police departments podcast represents an innovative step toward transforming public perception of law enforcement through modern, authentic engagement. By leveraging digital storytelling, DPD can humanize officers, build trust, and create a platform for transparent, ongoing dialogue with the community.