Chapel Hill and Carrboro: Towns exploring combining police services

Chapel Hill and Carrboro are studying whether Carrboro's police work should move under the Chapel Hill Police Department.

Chapel Hill's news page, posted Wednesday, Oct. 14, says Carrboro asked the town to look at providing police services to Carrboro residents. Carrboro's own release the same day says the towns are exploring a shared service model through an interlocal agreement.

No agreement has been approved. Carrboro's release says the idea is still in the exploratory and planning stages.

What the towns have said

Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney has been working with Chapel Hill's town manager and Chapel Hill police leaders on the proposal, the Carrboro release says.

In that release, Toney said public safety is one of local government's most important jobs and that the proposal is about exploring how the towns can build on both departments, expand capacity and manage public resources, including through regional collaboration.

Carrboro lists possible gains it wants to study: more specialized training and investigative support, staffing and patrol coverage, alternative responses such as behavioral-health work, and less duplicate administration. The release also says Carrboro wants to keep its own community priorities in any deal.

Any lasting agreement would need consideration and approval by both the Carrboro Town Council and the Chapel Hill Town Council, Carrboro says. Staff are to work with lawyers on a draft interlocal agreement covering duties, governance, service expectations and money.

Carrboro says it intends to give residents ways to learn about the proposal, ask questions and give feedback before any final decision.

What is scheduled

A staff presentation is on the Monday, Nov. 10, Carrboro Town Council business-meeting agenda. Carrboro's official engagement page lists the same date. The town's Oct. 14 release does not call that meeting a public hearing.

Carrboro's engagement page describes a phased plan. It lists a target start in December 2026 for a first five-officer group and shared space, and an 18-to-24-month period to put a permanent local act for governance in place. Those are posted targets, not votes.

The towns have not posted how money would move between them if they reach a deal.

Residents can follow Carrboro's page at engage.carrboronc.gov/police-proposal.

This is not a change in who to call in an emergency. Call 911 if anyone is in danger.