The collection documents the activities and policies of the Police Department. Materials include correspondence, reports, minutes, incident reports, depositions, photographs, the publication Duke Community Safety Report, maps, and other records concerning the operation and activities of the Department. Much of the material relates to parking and traffic problems, complaints, and solutions of the Traffic Committee. Other topics include safety procedures for various campus events and locations including Duke Hospital, internal announcements and administrative matters, and general correspondence. Much of the correspondence is with Paul J. Dumas, director of Duke police from 1971 to 1995. The collection also includes materials pertaining to Duke Police safety measures during basketball championship events, including VHS footage of campus bonfires. The records document the department's commitment to providing a secure and orderly environment for students to learn at Duke University.
The role of ensuring law enforcement and safety on Duke’s campus was originally carried out as an extension of facilities management and was a small operation. In 1939 there were only four officers on staff, and by 1961 the force numbered only ten. In the 1960s campus safety was handled by the Traffic and Security office under Physical Plant operations, and gradually increased in size and professionalism. In order to keep up with the needs of an expanding campus and student body, a special committee was appointed by the president to review campus security problems. The committee recommended that security matters should be elevated to the responsibility of the university’s central administration, rather than remain a minor role of maintenance services.
Warren C. A. Bear was hired to the newly created position of Chief of Security Division in 1961, and succeeded by Christopher J. Visas in 1969. In this decade the department hired its first African-American staff members: Timothy Dash, Jr. was hired in 1968 for a brief time, and A. B. Washington was hired in 1969, becoming chief of Public Safety’s campus police division in 1994. Requirements for newly hired patrolmen were formalized, including a minimum of a high school diploma and previous police experience, and additional on-the-job training implemented. The expansion and professionalization of security begun in the 1960s was accelerated in 1971 with the hiring of Paul J. Dumas as Director. Under his leadership the Traffic and Security Office was renamed the Public Safety Department, including police, traffic, and safety divisions and reporting to Business Administration. A detective unit was started and a new zoned campus parking system implemented in 1972 and a year later, in 1973, the first female officer Rosemary Jones joined the staff.
In the 1990s the department continued its efforts to meet the needs of an evolving campus, holding diversity forums and launching community safety initiatives to build rapport with the student body. Paul Dumas was awarded the university's top service award, the University Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service, being the first university staff member to receive the award as previous recipients were faculty, alumni, or trustees. He retired in 1995, succeeded by Alana Ennis. In 1996, the name of the unit was changed to Duke University Police Department to reflect the fact that many officers had police commissions and equal authority to municipal or county officers, and to avoid confusion with the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office. Clarence Birkhead took control of the Duke University Police Department in 1999, having served with the campus police since 1988. He was followed by Robert Dean from 2005 to 2008, who came out of retirement to serve as director after a four-decade career at Duke. John Dailey took over the role of chief of police in 2009. As of 2014, there were approximately 70 officers on the staff of the Duke University Police Department.
The Traffic Commission was started in 1951 to work in concert with campus security to cope with traffic and parking matters. Membership was composed of staff representatives from various campus units. The Commission had the authority to assess fines and set up judicial boards for appeals.
