Raleigh has officially named Rico Boyce as its new Chief of Police, a veteran of the force with over two decades of service in various roles, including Deputy Chief of Operations and Administration, as reported by the City of Raleigh. Boyce, who began his career patrolling Raleigh's Southeast District, is set to replace retiring Chief Estella Patterson and will be responsible for leading a department of more than 900 personnel.
In her announcement, City Manager Marchell Adams-David expressed confidence in the appointment resulting from a national search that spanned across the U.S. and Canada, highlighting Boyce's leadership, empathy, tactical knowledge, and his deep community connections, according to the City of Raleigh; Boyce’s ascent marks a continued trajectory through the Raleigh Police Department ranks, stemming from patrols on the street to the strategic development of initiatives such as Cops on Blocks and an autism awareness program.
Boyce's tenure will aim to augment community relations and transparency within the department. He has previously worked as a school resource officer, participated in gang suppression, and contributed to financial crime investigations. Marchell Adams-David lauded Boyce's ability to cultivate trust both within the police force and the community – a crucial factor for the city aiming to enhance safety.
Among the initiatives credited to Rico Boyce are pioneering the drone unit for better monitoring of outdoor events and forging an autism awareness program that equips officers to effectively serve individuals with special needs; these accomplishments demonstrate his dedication to evolving police work in line with community needs, drawing upon his extensive experience while simultaneously venturing into new technologically aided domains of law enforcement – Boyce also has an educational background in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, and a Master of Business Administration in International Studies.
Slated to take over as acting chief on March 1 and be sworn in later that month, Boyce's promotion is seen as a commitment by Raleigh to maintain a leadership that is both familiar with the local landscape and progressive in policing strategies, as he told the City of Raleigh. He has also been involved with numerous professional organizations, further deepening his engagement with Raleigh's community beyond the badge.
