NC Chiefs Of Police Name 1st Black, Female President

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Patricia D. Norris, chief of police and director of public safety at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), has been named the first female and first African American to serve as president of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police (NCACP).

Norris has been at the university since 2008. She previously served as chief of police for the City of Winston-Salem for four years and was on the force for 31 years. A life-long resident of Winston-Salem, Norris graduated from R. J. Reynolds High School, earned her undergraduate degree from WSSU, and is a graduate of the Administrative Officers’ Management Program at N.C. State University.

Norris had served as first vice president for the Association of Chiefs of Police, a professional organization dedicated to the support and encouragement for all police chiefs in the state.

In addition to her new position at NCACP, Norris was also recently appointed to the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission. The commission serves as the chief advisory body to the Governor and the Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety on crime and justice issues. She serves on the Crime Victims’ Services Program Planning Committee for the organization.